--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You accept things as they are, not as you…" description: "\"You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were in this moment...The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/deepak-chopra-63_accepting_you-accept-things-as-they-are-not-as-you_946359.jpg" --- # You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were… ![“You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were in this moment...The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called the present.” quote by Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/deepak-chopra-63_accepting_you-accept-things-as-they-are-not-as-you_946359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/deepak-chopra-63_accepting_you-accept-things-as-they-are-not-as-you_946359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/deepak-chopra-63_accepting_you-accept-things-as-they-are-not-as-you_946359.jpg) > “You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were in this moment...The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called the present.” [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting reality as it is, recognizing the past is fixed and the future unknown, allows us to view each moment as a precious gift. **In simple terms:** Accept the present, let go of past and future. Key Takeaway Live fully in the now. Themes mindfulness acceptance presence Mood calm centered Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - stress reduction - decision making - creative work - relationships Key Concepts philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance present awareness with future planning? - What practices help you stay present? A Different Perspective Focusing only on the present may ignore useful lessons from the past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future Is A Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-is-a-mystery/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called ‘the present’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-and-this-moment-is-a-gift/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I lost a girlfriend when I was in my 30s. She was 46. It all sounds so trite, but I put a Post-it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bond/i-lost-a-girlfriend-when-i-was-in-my-30s-she-was-46-it-all-sounds-so/) [Samantha Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bond/) > [The past is history; The future is a mystery; This moment is a gift; That is why this moment is called the present; Enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-johnson/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-this-moment-is-a-gift/) Alan Johnson > [Completely desist from defending your point of view. When you have no point to defend, you do not allow the birth of an argument.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/completely-desist-from-defending-your-point-of-view-when-you-have-no-2/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Treat every moment as a gift, that is why it is called the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/treat-every-moment-as-a-gift-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-present/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Past is hitory, future is a mystery. And today is a gift... That is why it's called present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/past-is-hitory-future-is-a-mystery-and-today-is-a-gift-that-is-why-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The past is history, the future is a mystery, today is a gift, that's way it's called the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-today-is-a-gift-that-s/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The present moment dies every moment to become the past , is reborn every moment into the future. All experience is now. Now never ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-present-moment-dies-every-moment-to-become-the-past-is-reborn/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I will practice acceptance. Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances, and events as they occur. I will know that this moment is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/i-will-practice-acceptance-today-i-will-accept-people-situations/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were in this moment. This is important to understand. You can wish for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/you-accept-things-as-they-are-not-as-you-wish-they-were-in-this-2/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [What I've done in the past is history and what I'm gonna do in the future is a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/what-i-ve-done-in-the-past-is-history-and-what-i-m-gonna-do-in-the/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [When you struggle against this moment, you're actually struggling against the entire universe. Instead, you can make the decision that today you will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-you-struggle-against-this-moment-you-re-actually-struggling/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-the-present-is-a-gift/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [You can wish for things in the future to be different, but in this moment you have to accept things as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/you-can-wish-for-things-in-the-future-to-be-different-but-in-this/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More by Deepak Chopra > [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/) > [“Molecules form and dissolve, returning to the primordial soup of atoms. But consciousness survives the death of the molecules on which it rides. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/molecules-form-and-dissolve-returning-to-the-primordial-soup-of-atoms/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Unbounded awareness is the reservoir of possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/unbounded-awareness-is-the-reservoir-of-possibilities/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Spiritual awareness is not only one of the keys to the healing process. Spiritual awareness is the only way that healing can occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/spiritual-awareness-is-not-only-one-of-the-keys-to-the-healing/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [All experiences are either positive for your brain or negative. If you maximize the positive ones, you are shaping the brain you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/all-experiences-are-either-positive-for-your-brain-or-negative-if-you/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [There are only 2 responses to the world, fear or love. Your life depends on which one you choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/there-are-only-2-responses-to-the-world-fear-or-love-your-life/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If you take the the insults of your fellow human beings personally, you will be offended for the rest of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-take-the-the-insults-of-your-fellow-human-beings-personally/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [A person desperately searching for love," Merlin said, "reminds me of a fish desperately searching for water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/a-person-desperately-searching-for-love-merlin-said-reminds-me-of-a/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Fighting your ego is a melodrama of the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/fighting-your-ego-is-a-melodrama-of-the-ego/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The same faint song is heard in everything: "Behold yourself".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-same-faint-song-is-heard-in-everything-behold-yourself/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“All creativity is based on quantum leaps and uncertainty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/all-creativity-is-based-on-quantum-leaps-and-uncertainty/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The soul knows everything. Be who you are and your life will transform forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-soul-knows-everything-be-who-you-are-and-your-life-will-transform/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The willingness to reach inside every part of yourself opens the door to total understanding. You place your entire identity on the line, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-willingness-to-reach-inside-every-part-of-yourself-opens-the-door/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Be willing to redefine yourself every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/be-willing-to-redefine-yourself-every-day/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [To have weakness is not to be flawed--it's to be complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/to-have-weakness-is-not-to-be-flawed-it-s-to-be-complete/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) [Explore all 1,675 Deepak Chopra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were in this moment...The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. 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