--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we want a new future that does not…" description: "\"If we want a new future that does not look like our past, we must make new choices in the present.\" — Debbie Ford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png" --- # If we want a new future that does not look like our past… ![“If we want a new future that does not look like our past, we must make new choices in the present.” quote by Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png) > “If we want a new future that does not look like our past, we must make new choices in the present.” [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To shape a different future we must act differently now, breaking patterns of the past. **In simple terms:** New future needs new present choices. Key Takeaway Choose differently today. Themes change future choice growth Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - career planning - relationship decisions - policy making Key Concepts psychology agency decision making Questions to Reflect On - What present choices can you change? - How does past influence future choices? A Different Perspective Changing habits is hard and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [New future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-future/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Every important choice we make is being guided by one of two places: either it is an act of faith or it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/every-important-choice-we-make-is-being-guided-by-one-of-two-places/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Hoping all my students make wise decisions every day, but especially tonight when so many bad choices will be present. Be Wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hoping-all-my-students-make-wise-decisions-every-day-but-especially/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your life is the sum total of all your choices up to this present minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-life-is-the-sum-total-of-all-your-choices-up-to-this-present/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Questions that begin ‘If I had/if I had not’ have no true answers. You can never know how your actions may have impacted Master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dee/questions-that-begin-if-i-had-if-i-had-not-have-no-true-answers-you/) [Chris Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dee/) > [We make our own choices, and then we present the matter to the Lord and get his approving, ratifying seal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-r-mcconkie/we-make-our-own-choices-and-then-we-present-the-matter-to-the-lord/) [Bruce R. McConkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-r-mcconkie/) > [“When someone let’s us down, we can take the time to figure out if we want to allow that to happen again. After all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humble-poet/when-someone-let-s-us-down-we-can-take-the-time-to-figure-out-if-we/) Humble Poet > [Life is a series of choices that are made in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/life-is-a-series-of-choices-that-are-made-in-the-present-moment/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [No new choices are introduced by raising the specter of disaster. These become opportunities for swearing new allegiance to technology. The solution is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-phillip-verene/no-new-choices-are-introduced-by-raising-the-specter-of-disaster/) [Donald Phillip Verene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-phillip-verene/) > [You make a new life by making new choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-stephenson/you-make-a-new-life-by-making-new-choices/) [Sean Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-stephenson/) > [To improve your life, be prepared to make new choices and decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/to-improve-your-life-be-prepared-to-make-new-choices-and-decisions/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Happiness can be woven into every aspect of life once you make new choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/happiness-can-be-woven-into-every-aspect-of-life-once-you-make-new/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“If you want a new tomorrow, then make new choices today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/if-you-want-a-new-tomorrow-then-make-new-choices-today/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [“Making changes requires making new and different choices, choices that are more conscious, and more life-supporting. Continuing to do what we have been doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/making-changes-requires-making-new-and-different-choices-choices-that/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [Every day brings new choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/every-day-brings-new-choices/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [You are always free to choose what you do with your life. To make changes in your future, make new choices today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/you-are-always-free-to-choose-what-you-do-with-your-life-to-make/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Debbie Ford > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Divorce becomes a holy moment when you choose to use it as a catalyst for having an extraordinary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/divorce-becomes-a-holy-moment-when-you-choose-to-use-it-as-a-catalyst/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Compassion is one of the highest states of consciousness that you can choose to assist you in times of enormous pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/compassion-is-one-of-the-highest-states-of-consciousness-that-you-can/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Now is the time to take back your energy, your power, and your peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/now-is-the-time-to-take-back-your-energy-your-power-and-your-peace/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Many of us don’t realize that we have a choice about which aspect of ourselves we will use as the foundation upon which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/many-of-us-don-t-realize-that-we-have-a-choice-about-which-aspect-of/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [It is your holy work, to deeply love, honor and respect the precious self that you are, the soul that only you hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/it-is-your-holy-work-to-deeply-love-honor-and-respect-the-precious/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Standing in our power demands that we be vulnerable, listen to our own voice, and take risks outside the comfort of what we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/standing-in-our-power-demands-that-we-be-vulnerable-listen-to-our-own/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [In trying to express only those aspects of ourselves that we believe will guarantee us the acceptance of others, we suppress some of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/in-trying-to-express-only-those-aspects-of-ourselves-that-we-believe/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [The evolution of one's own soul is a process. It's not a quick fix. It's not a five-day workshop. It's a lifetime process where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-evolution-of-one-s-own-soul-is-a-process-it-s-not-a-quick-fix-it/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Think about how audacious it is to really believe in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/think-about-how-audacious-it-is-to-really-believe-in-yourself/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [For when I can love all of me, I will love all of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/for-when-i-can-love-all-of-me-i-will-love-all-of-you/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [There is not one life that doesn’t add tremendous value to the whole. Somewhere inside of us we know this to be true; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/there-is-not-one-life-that-doesn-t-add-tremendous-value-to-the-whole/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [What if the key to unlocking your true authentic power, to opening up your heart deeply to love, to finding the confidence to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/what-if-the-key-to-unlocking-your-true-authentic-power-to-opening-up/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [The shadow is not a problem to be solved or an enemy to be conquered, but a fertile field to be cultivated. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-shadow-is-not-a-problem-to-be-solved-or-an-enemy-to-be-conquered/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [A courageous warrior knows that she is powerfully sourced by something much greater than herself and that she can release the judgments of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/a-courageous-warrior-knows-that-she-is-powerfully-sourced-by/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) [Explore all 161 Debbie Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we want a new future that does not look like our past, we must make new choices in the present.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debbie Ford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-look-like-our-past-we-must-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-look-like-our-past-we-must-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/debbie-ford-2553_choices_if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-lo_338911.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we want a new future that does not look like our past, we must make new choices in the present.” — Debbie Ford", "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": "Debbie Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we want a new future...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-look-like-our-past-we-must-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/if-we-want-a-new-future-that-does-not-look-like-our-past-we-must-make/#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 } } ] } ```