--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can do something about a…" description: "\"If you can do something about a situation, why worry? And if you can't do something about a situation, why worry?\" — Dalai Lama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/dalai-lama-89_can-do_if-you-can-do-something-about-a-situatio_1715813.jpg" --- # If you can do something about a situation, why worry? And… ![“If you can do something about a situation, why worry? And if you can't do something about a situation, why worry?” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/dalai-lama-89_can-do_if-you-can-do-something-about-a-situatio_1715813.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/dalai-lama-89_can-do_if-you-can-do-something-about-a-situatio_1715813.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/dalai-lama-89_can-do_if-you-can-do-something-about-a-situatio_1715813.jpg) > “If you can do something about a situation, why worry? And if you can't do something about a situation, why worry?” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you can influence a situation, act; if not, let go, because worry wastes energy. **In simple terms:** Act on what you can change; release what you can’t. Key Takeaway Focus effort where it matters. Themes mindfulness control acceptance stress action Mood calm thoughtful Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - work deadlines - health concerns - global events Key Concepts cognitive behavioral concepts Stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What can you change right now? - How do you practice letting go? A Different Perspective Some situations are complex; action may be limited despite best intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Can do something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do-something/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situation Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-worry-1289610/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-situation-1289611/) ## Related quotes > [“When faced with challenges, if you can not CHANGE the situation, NEVER WORRY, replace worry with FAITH. If you can change the situation, makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hopal-green/when-faced-with-challenges-if-you-can-not-change-the-situation-never/) [Hopal Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hopal-green/) > [“On the news tonight the new President said there's no reason for anyone to worry about the situation. He didn't say which situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-womack/on-the-news-tonight-the-new-president-said-there-s-no-reason-for/) [Jack Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-womack/) > [Don't worry, the situation is undercontrolled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/don-t-worry-the-situation-is-undercontrolled/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Don't worry about the situation of the world. You must be very happy, very very happy! Only through happiness and waves of bliss you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/don-t-worry-about-the-situation-of-the-world-you-must-be-very-happy/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [Remember, just because Microsoft can do something, doesn't mean you can. Microsoft makes their own gravity. Normal rules don't apply to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-spolsky/remember-just-because-microsoft-can-do-something-doesn-t-mean-you-can/) [Joel Spolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-spolsky/) > [you can do something. You can, even for one person Don't turn away; help. Because those who suffer, often suffer not because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/you-can-do-something-you-can-even-for-one-person-don-t-turn-away-help/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Every medium has its own kind of freedom. I don't want to just cross from one to the next. I want to enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/every-medium-has-its-own-kind-of-freedom-i-don-t-want-to-just-cross/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [My advice is don't keep asking yourself if you can do something. Just get out there and do it. You can really surprise yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/my-advice-is-don-t-keep-asking-yourself-if-you-can-do-something-just/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Government can do something for the people only in proportion as it can do something to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/government-can-do-something-for-the-people-only-in-proportion-as-it/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [One of the most effective ways to overcome anxiety is to try to shift the focus of attention away from self and toward others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/one-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-overcome-anxiety-is-to-try-to-shift/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-fact-being-wealthy-often-brings-even-more-anxiety/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If it can be solved, there's no need to worry, and if it can't be solved, worry is of no use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-it-can-be-solved-there-s-no-need-to-worry-and-if-it-can-t-be/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Anger, hatred and jealousy never solve problems, only affection, concern and respect can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/anger-hatred-and-jealousy-never-solve-problems-only-affection-concern/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The practice of patience guards us against losing our presence of mind. It enables us to remain undisturbed, even when the situation is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-practice-of-patience-guards-us-against-losing-our-presence-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Laughing at fear is one of the best things you can do. When you are afraid, instead of just plunging into panic, laugh. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/laughing-at-fear-is-one-of-the-best-things-you-can-do-when-you-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Dalai Lama > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. 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By cultivating inner values, we can change our own lives and those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-can-change-society-change-humanity-by-changing-ourselves-as/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I don't want to convert people to Buddhism — all major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-don-t-want-to-convert-people-to-buddhism-all-major-religions-when/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There is no way to escape death, it is just like trying to escape by four great mountains touching sky. There is no escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-is-no-way-to-escape-death-it-is-just-like-trying-to-escape-by/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We live within the environment. So that directly relates with our survival, our life. So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you can do something about a situation, why worry? 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