--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adolescents who are absorbing negative…" description: "\"Adolescents who are absorbing negative messages about who they are and what is expected of them may sink to that level instead of realizing their true ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/daniel-j-siegel-13364_absorbing_adolescents-who-are-absorbing-negative-m_682998.png" --- # Adolescents who are absorbing negative messages about who… ![“Adolescents who are absorbing negative messages about who they are and what is expected of them may sink to that level instead of realizing their true potential. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable…” quote by Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/daniel-j-siegel-13364_absorbing_adolescents-who-are-absorbing-negative-m_682998.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/daniel-j-siegel-13364_absorbing_adolescents-who-are-absorbing-negative-m_682998.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/daniel-j-siegel-13364_absorbing_adolescents-who-are-absorbing-negative-m_682998.png) > “Adolescents who are absorbing negative messages about who they are and what is expected of them may sink to that level instead of realizing their true potential. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being."” [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Negative messages can limit self‑belief; treating youths as capable encourages them to realize their potential. **In simple terms:** Positive expectations nurture growth. Key Takeaway Believe in others’ potential. Themes development self‑esteem potential growth mindset Mood inspirational reflective Type psychological educational When to use this quote - education - parenting - coaching - mentoring Key Concepts psychology neuroscience expectancy theory Questions to Reflect On - How does expectation shape identity? A Different Perspective Can we truly see others’ hidden abilities? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adolescents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adolescents/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [True potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-potential/) ## Related quotes > [“As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/as-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-wrote-treat-people-as-if-they-were-what/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [There are some people who have left me negative messages, but they aren't true Chelsea fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/there-are-some-people-who-have-left-me-negative-messages-but-they/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-galloway/the-more-you-frame-the-marathon-as-a-stressful-experience-the-more/) [Jeff Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-galloway/) > [It was always quite negative messages on love I was given as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/it-was-always-quite-negative-messages-on-love-i-was-given-as-a-kid/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [“When we allow negative messages to fester in our head, they take on a life of their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-daskal/when-we-allow-negative-messages-to-fester-in-our-head-they-take-on-a/) [Lolly Daskal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-daskal/) > [Germany and Turkey are two countries that need each other. As political leaders we will leave our offices one day, but our people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/germany-and-turkey-are-two-countries-that-need-each-other-as/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [“Your life is constantly sending out messages to others to see. Are you sending Positive Or Negative messages?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/your-life-is-constantly-sending-out-messages-to-others-to-see-are-you/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“Guard your heart, Mama. Guard your lips. There will be plenty of confusing, negative messages aimed at your girls through their lives; please, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-heights/guard-your-heart-mama-guard-your-lips-there-will-be-plenty-of/) Jessica Heights > [I listen to all the top 20 songs, and top 20 albums, even the rap albums. But I don't like negative messages. If somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-listen-to-all-the-top-20-songs-and-top-20-albums-even-the-rap/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [There's a quote I love, the full version is a bastardisation of quotes from William Hutchison Murray and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-robins/there-s-a-quote-i-love-the-full-version-is-a-bastardisation-of-quotes/) John Robins > [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-herschel/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [John Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-herschel/) > [“Everyone holds his fortune in his own hands, like a sculptor the raw material he will fashion into a figure. But it’s the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/everyone-holds-his-fortune-in-his-own-hands-like-a-sculptor-the-raw/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man hardly anything. —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-benjamin/the-intelligent-man-finds-almost-everything-ridiculous-the-sensible-2/) [Oliver Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-benjamin/) > [“If you treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is, but if you treat him as if he were what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-miller/if-you-treat-an-individual-as-he-is-he-will-stay-as-he-is-but-if-you/) [William R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-miller/) > [Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe31. The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-2/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) ## More by Daniel J. Siegel > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [...not all encounters with the world affect the mind equally. Studies have demonstrated that if the brain appraises an event as "meaningful," it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/not-all-encounters-with-the-world-affect-the-mind-equally-studies/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [Each of us needs periods in which our minds can focus inwardly. Solitude is an essential experience for the mind to organize its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/each-of-us-needs-periods-in-which-our-minds-can-focus-inwardly/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“the “work” of adolescence—the testing of boundaries, the passion to explore what is unknown and exciting—can set the stage for the development of core…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/the-work-of-adolescence-the-testing-of-boundaries-the-passion-to/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“Too often we forget that “discipline” really means “to teach”—not “to punish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/too-often-we-forget-that-discipline-really-means-to-teach-not-to/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“The downstairs state of reactivity doesn’t know what to do with a lot of upstairs words. Often, in moments of reactivity, nonverbals (like hugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/the-downstairs-state-of-reactivity-doesn-t-know-what-to-do-with-a-lot/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“if we use how we were taught yesterday to teach our children today, we are not preparing them well for tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/if-we-use-how-we-were-taught-yesterday-to-teach-our-children-today-we/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [The number of possible "on-off" patterns of neuronal firing is immense, estimated as a staggering ten times ten one million times (ten to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/the-number-of-possible-on-off-patterns-of-neuronal-firing-is-immense/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [Recent studies of mindfulness practices reveal that they can result in profound improvements in a range of physiological, mental, and interpersonal domains in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/recent-studies-of-mindfulness-practices-reveal-that-they-can-result/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [While the days of parenting may seem so long, the years are so short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/while-the-days-of-parenting-may-seem-so-long-the-years-are-so-short/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“between the two. Harmony emerges from integration. Chaos and rigidity arise when integration is blocked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/between-the-two-harmony-emerges-from-integration-chaos-and-rigidity/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“An important take-home message is that it is vital to keep the lines of connection and communication open and to remember that we all—adolescents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/an-important-take-home-message-is-that-it-is-vital-to-keep-the-lines/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [We now know that the way to help a child develop optimally is to help create connections in her brain—her whole brain—that develop skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/we-now-know-that-the-way-to-help-a-child-develop-optimally-is-to-help/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“Our dreams and stories may contain implicit aspects of our lives even without our awareness. In fact, storytelling may be a primary way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/our-dreams-and-stories-may-contain-implicit-aspects-of-our-lives-even/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“The research is really clear on this point. Kids who achieve the best outcomes in life—emotionally, relationally, and even educationally—have parents who raise them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/the-research-is-really-clear-on-this-point-kids-who-achieve-the-best/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) [Explore all 49 Daniel J. Siegel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) ## More Absorbing quotes > [The artist has to be something like a whale swimming with his mouth wide open, absorbing everything until he has what he really needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romare-bearden/the-artist-has-to-be-something-like-a-whale-swimming-with-his-mouth/) [Romare Bearden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romare-bearden/) > [I probably need another couple of years of absorbing that and really looking at it to be able to do it because you actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/i-probably-need-another-couple-of-years-of-absorbing-that-and-really/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-bless-the-gods-for-not-letting-my-education-in-rhetoric-poetry-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Edge also implies what Ben Graham…called a margin of safety. You have a margin of safety when you buy an asset at a price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mauboussin/edge-also-implies-what-ben-graham-called-a-margin-of-safety-you-have/) [Michael Mauboussin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mauboussin/) > [I would spend hours absorbing every intonation, every inflection - how the singer would convey a sentiment and how it would sound coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-edmonson/i-would-spend-hours-absorbing-every-intonation-every-inflection-how/) [Kat Edmonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-edmonson/) > [The nut of this tree is hung high aloft, wrapped in a silk wrapper, which is enclosed in a case of sole leather, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-de-camoes/the-nut-of-this-tree-is-hung-high-aloft-wrapped-in-a-silk-wrapper/) [Luis de Camoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-de-camoes/) > [The habit of quietly absorbing the shocks will be quite a great help to stabilize pure awareness. The technique is: Just feel not disturbed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/the-habit-of-quietly-absorbing-the-shocks-will-be-quite-a-great-help/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [It's hard to pick. I mean, I think the one that is most emblematic of the collaboration that occurred is "We Know The Way."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/it-s-hard-to-pick-i-mean-i-think-the-one-that-is-most-emblematic-of/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [Babies breathe a lot more rapidly than adults do, and what's more, they're also growing quickly and so they're absorbing lots more into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-thompson/babies-breathe-a-lot-more-rapidly-than-adults-do-and-what-s-more-they/) [Francis Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-thompson/) > [Where does the ego get its energy? The ego feeds off your desire to be something else. You are poor and you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/where-does-the-ego-get-its-energy-the-ego-feeds-off-your-desire-to-be/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I know "accessibility" is a term that's kind of thrown around wantonly today, especially with talking about visual media. But I think that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-powell/i-know-accessibility-is-a-term-that-s-kind-of-thrown-around-wantonly/) [Nate Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-powell/) > [I've always looked at directing as the next step for me in my creative career, and after spending the better part of the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anthony-dale/i-ve-always-looked-at-directing-as-the-next-step-for-me-in-my/) [Ian Anthony Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anthony-dale/) > [In anything fit to be called by the name of reading, the process itself should be absorbing and voluptuous; we should gloat over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/in-anything-fit-to-be-called-by-the-name-of-reading-the-process/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Inside you're like some kind of mirror, reflecting everything without absorbing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-j-deikman/inside-you-re-like-some-kind-of-mirror-reflecting-everything-without/) [Arthur J. Deikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-j-deikman/) > [There are two kinds of actors -- one sits in a dressing room waiting for his call and the other gets out into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/there-are-two-kinds-of-actors-one-sits-in-a-dressing-room-waiting-for/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) Browse all 189 Absorbing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Adolescents who are absorbing negative messages about who they are and what is expected of them may sink to that level instead of realizing their true potential. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel J. 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