---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without a gut-level sense that you are…"
description: "\"Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in control of what's happening to you, you won't even consider the option that you could manage it be..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png"
---

#  Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in…

![“Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in control of what's happening to you, you won't even consider the option that you could manage it better.” quote by David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png)

> “Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in control of what's happening to you, you won't even consider the option that you could manage it better.”

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Believing you control your circumstances is prerequisite to seeking improvement.

**In simple terms:** Control is needed to try better management.

Key Takeaway

Recognize your agency before change.

Themes

personal responsibility self‑efficacy growth mindset

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- health decisions
- financial budgeting
- relationship conflicts

Key Concepts

agency psychology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you feel you control your daily outcomes?
- What would change if you accepted more responsibility?

A Different Perspective

If you feel powerless, you may ignore opportunities to improve.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/)

## Related quotes

> [“And we have seen how Rousseau’s insistence on creating a world that makes sense ultimately vitiates his attempt to educate a child for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-neiman/and-we-have-seen-how-rousseau-s-insistence-on-creating-a-world-that/)

[Susan Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-neiman/)

> [You can't count on things happening if you're not in control of them happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-lamas/you-can-t-count-on-things-happening-if-you-re-not-in-control-of-them/)

[Lorenzo Lamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-lamas/)

> [Now we're in a very different economy. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s American management started to do the right things. There was extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/now-we-re-in-a-very-different-economy-throughout-the-late-1980s-and/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [It is easy being a manager when you are one of 25,000 sitting in the stand or if you are an ex-player who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-roeder/it-is-easy-being-a-manager-when-you-are-one-of-25-000-sitting-in-the-2/)

[Glenn Roeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-roeder/)

> [It is easy being a manager when you are one of 25,000 sitting in the stand or if you are an ex-player who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-roeder/it-is-easy-being-a-manager-when-you-are-one-of-25-000-sitting-in-the/)

[Glenn Roeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-roeder/)

> [“Be the one to make you happy. Additions are always great, but ultimately, you are in control. Seek it. Find it. Cherish it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-matson/be-the-one-to-make-you-happy-additions-are-always-great-but/)

T.C. Matson

> [If we want to be considered among the shows that are worth watching, it's got to be really good. Ultimately, that's all you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dewey/if-we-want-to-be-considered-among-the-shows-that-are-worth-watching/)

[Tommy Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dewey/)

> [The nation that secures control of the air will ultimately control the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/the-nation-that-secures-control-of-the-air-will-ultimately-control/)

[Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/)

> [God is the one that's ultimately in control of everything. You can't try to change things when they're not meant to be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-stenhouse-jr-2/god-is-the-one-that-s-ultimately-in-control-of-everything-you-can-t/)

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr

> [Ultimately, I'm in control of what's going on in the books, so I can back off, if it's scaring me too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/ultimately-i-m-in-control-of-what-s-going-on-in-the-books-so-i-can/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

## More by David Allen

> [“Klara Sztucinski, and Elliott Kellman. The administrative”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/klara-sztucinski-and-elliott-kellman-the-administrative/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/your-ability-to-generate-power-is-directly-proportional-to-your/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“Too much information creates the same result as too little:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/too-much-information-creates-the-same-result-as-too-little/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [You don't actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-don-t-actually-do-a-project-you-can-only-do-action-steps-related/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [You won't see how to do it until you see yourself doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-won-t-see-how-to-do-it-until-you-see-yourself-doing-it/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“It’s the nature of human experience, which is always in some form of motion, to veer off course—sometimes in major, but consistently in minor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/it-s-the-nature-of-human-experience-which-is-always-in-some-form-of/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“The real challenge is to make good communication a handy and well-used tool. Then you are likely to pick it up and use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/the-real-challenge-is-to-make-good-communication-a-handy-and-well/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [Everything you’ve told yourself you ought to do, your mind thinks you should do right now. Frankly, as soon add you have two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/everything-you-ve-told-yourself-you-ought-to-do-your-mind-thinks-you/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“We need ways to validate and support our thinking, no matter how informal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/we-need-ways-to-validate-and-support-our-thinking-no-matter-how/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“The value of goals is not in the future they describe, but the change in perception of reality they foster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/the-value-of-goals-is-not-in-the-future-they-describe-but-the-change/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“Taking the inventory of your current work at all levels will automatically produce greater focus, alignment, and sense of priorities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/taking-the-inventory-of-your-current-work-at-all-levels-will/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“have discovered that one of the major reasons many people haven’t had a lot of success with getting organized is simply that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/have-discovered-that-one-of-the-major-reasons-many-people-haven-t-had/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/your-mind-is-for-having-ideas-not-holding-them/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [“you can decide what, specifically, something means to you and what you intend to do about it, if anything; if you can use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-can-decide-what-specifically-something-means-to-you-and-what-you/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [Focusing on your values may provide you with meaning, but it won't simplify things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/focusing-on-your-values-may-provide-you-with-meaning-but-it-won-t/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

[Explore all 147 David Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

## More Consider quotes

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

> [It was the one dream he'd never permitted himself to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-the-one-dream-he-d-never-permitted-himself-to-consider/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/)

[Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/)

> [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/)

[Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/)

> [She would consider each day a miracle - which indeed it is, when you consider the number of unexpected things that could happen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-would-consider-each-day-a-miracle-which-indeed-it-is-when-you/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [Everything is a part of what God's up to in your life, so I think our job is to embrace it. Everything. Embrace it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaither/everything-is-a-part-of-what-god-s-up-to-in-your-life-so-i-think-our/)

[Gloria Gaither](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaither/)

> [As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/as-a-layperson-i-consider-myself-fairly-well-educated-in-terms-of/)

[Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/)

> [Because of my tremendous respect for Bob Barker and for the show's high standards of professionalism I consider this a tremendous honor that few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-west/because-of-my-tremendous-respect-for-bob-barker-and-for-the-show-s/)

[Randy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-west/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [I'm all over the place, and I consider myself a bit of a scrounger: 'What will I do next, so I'm not broke?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kightlinger/i-m-all-over-the-place-and-i-consider-myself-a-bit-of-a-scrounger/)

[Laura Kightlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kightlinger/)

> [I do consider myself part of black history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-do-consider-myself-part-of-black-history/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/)

[Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/)

> [These Americans are among the working poor with full-time jobs earning $5.15 an hour. Millions fall into this boat, even more when you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-kaptur/these-americans-are-among-the-working-poor-with-full-time-jobs/)

[Marcy Kaptur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-kaptur/)

> [“It is something to consider, if we're making a list of things to consider, that most relationships are mirrors of yourself, and that those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/it-is-something-to-consider-if-we-re-making-a-list-of-things-to/)

[Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/)

> [I consider myself an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-consider-myself-an-independent/)

[Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/)

Browse all 1,361 Consider quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in control of what's happening to you, you won't even consider the option that you could manage it better.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Allen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-ultimately-in-control-of-what/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Consider"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-ultimately-in-control-of-what/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/david-allen-2835_consider_without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-u_214457.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in control of what's happening to you, you won't even…” — David Allen",
                "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": "David Allen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Without a gut-level sense that you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-ultimately-in-control-of-what/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-ultimately-in-control-of-what/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
