--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm in a hole because at some point I…" description: "\"“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and start climbing.”\" — Craig D...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg" --- # I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and… ![“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and start climbing.” quote by Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg) > ““I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and start climbing.”” [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When stuck in a problem, we may keep digging deeper with the same tools instead of seeking new approaches like ladders to climb out. **In simple terms:** Continuing the same effort can trap us; try different tools to progress. Key Takeaway Switch strategies when current methods stall. Themes problem solving adaptation growth Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career change - skill learning - project management - personal setbacks - mental health Key Concepts tool metaphor digging climbing strategy shift Questions to Reflect On - What new tool could help you overcome this obstacle? - When is it better to persist versus change? A Different Perspective Changing tools may require resources or risk; not always feasible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [Deliberation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberation/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [I have way too shady a background to get into politics. I was a crazy kid - I was in bands, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-have-way-too-shady-a-background-to-get-into-politics-i-was-a-crazy/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I've never seen a constructive Social Security debate that started with one side digging in, in one place and another side digging into another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-never-seen-a-constructive-social-security-debate-that-started/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Impulsivity is something akin to spontaneously jumping out of an airplane and not realizing that you forgot something until about five seconds before impact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/impulsivity-is-something-akin-to-spontaneously-jumping-out-of-an/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Maybe it’s a whole lot less about focusing on the fact that we’re all victims and a whole lot more about the changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/maybe-it-s-a-whole-lot-less-about-focusing-on-the-fact-that-we-re-all/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The blight of our humanity rests in the fact that we have pushed aside the treasures of God in pursuit of the scrapes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-blight-of-our-humanity-rests-in-the-fact-that-we-have-pushed/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“In the thoughtlessness of my incessant hurry, I have made God an ‘addendum in’ my life verses the ‘agenda of’ my life. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/in-the-thoughtlessness-of-my-incessant-hurry-i-have-made-god-an/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Oh that I had the opportunity to rethink so many of my decisions, for the pitfalls into which I have so frequently fallen were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/oh-that-i-had-the-opportunity-to-rethink-so-many-of-my-decisions-for/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“When I’m at the bottom looking up, the main question may not be ‘how do I get out of this hole?’ In reality, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/when-i-m-at-the-bottom-looking-up-the-main-question-may-not-be-how-do/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“No human being live a blank life that is thoughtless, therefore you are what you learned on your life time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/life-coach-michael-mnyameni/no-human-being-live-a-blank-life-that-is-thoughtless-therefore-you/) Life Coach. Michael Mnyameni > [It amazes me how sometimes people can be so thoughtless when they come to give you their opinion, especially around Caesarean sections and breastfeeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-bowman/it-amazes-me-how-sometimes-people-can-be-so-thoughtless-when-they/) [Edith Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-bowman/) > [“And am I answerable that thoughtless and unprincipled men exist whose shades of contenance may resemble mine?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenimore-cooper/and-am-i-answerable-that-thoughtless-and-unprincipled-men-exist-whose/) [James Fenimore Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenimore-cooper/) > [“He was thoughtless, not because he was insensitive, but because I had just eaten his brain and his skull was empty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/he-was-thoughtless-not-because-he-was-insensitive-but-because-i-had/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Dont be sorry for loving someone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/dont-be-sorry-for-loving-someone/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“I just... I can't share you. The thought of you with him, it kills me, now more than it ever did before. I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/i-just-i-can-t-share-you-the-thought-of-you-with-him-it-kills-me-now/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“Thus the thoughtless drift backward toward slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/thus-the-thoughtless-drift-backward-toward-slavery/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) ## More by Craig D. Lounsbrough > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I’m not trying to save you from yourself. I’m trying to help you save yourself from yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-not-trying-to-save-you-from-yourself-i-m-trying-to-help-you-save/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The service of self terminates at our own death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-service-of-self-terminates-at-our-own-death/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“It’s better to die for what’s right than live for what’s wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-s-better-to-die-for-what-s-right-than-live-for-what-s-wrong/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Do not be fooled. Passive prayers hastily tossed out as some second-thought appeasement at those junctures when life’s more pressing duties benevolently grant us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/do-not-be-fooled-passive-prayers-hastily-tossed-out-as-some-second/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The measure of who you are will always exceed measurement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-measure-of-who-you-are-will-always-exceed-measurement/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Darkness is the absence of light. Therefore, darkness is always fleeing from where light is and scurrying off to where it is not. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/darkness-is-the-absence-of-light-therefore-darkness-is-always-fleeing/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Explore all 754 Craig D. Lounsbrough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and start climbing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Craig D. Lounsbrough" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_choice_i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-fo_301576.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels…” — Craig D. Lounsbrough", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Craig D. Lounsbrough", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I'm in a hole because at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```