--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'd had any way of knowing that things…" description: "\"If I'd had any way of knowing that things were- as Lily Tomlin once said- going to get a whole lot worse before they got worse, I'm not sure how I woul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/elizabeth-gilbert-131_knowing_if-i-d-had-any-way-of-knowing-that-thing_1585387.jpg" --- # If I'd had any way of knowing that things were- as Lily… ![“If I'd had any way of knowing that things were- as Lily Tomlin once said- going to get a whole lot worse before they got worse, I'm not sure how I would have slept that night.” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/elizabeth-gilbert-131_knowing_if-i-d-had-any-way-of-knowing-that-thing_1585387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/elizabeth-gilbert-131_knowing_if-i-d-had-any-way-of-knowing-that-thing_1585387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/elizabeth-gilbert-131_knowing_if-i-d-had-any-way-of-knowing-that-thing_1585387.jpg) > “If I'd had any way of knowing that things were- as Lily Tomlin once said- going to get a whole lot worse before they got worse, I'm not sure how I would have slept that night.” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Foreseeing worsening events can cause sleeplessness, highlighting anxiety about the future. **In simple terms:** Worry about bad outcomes disrupts sleep. Key Takeaway Practice acceptance and present‑focused coping. Themes anxiety future health Mood anxious contemplative Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - nighttime routines - therapy - journaling Key Concepts mindfulness stress management Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle uncertainty? - What strategies calm nighttime anxiety? A Different Perspective Over‑preoccupation can impair decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Got Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-worse-289243/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Lilies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lilies/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lily-tomlin/) [Lot Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-worse-451996/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Not sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-sure/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Slept Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slept-night-646015/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse/) [Worse Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-sure-4723761/) ## Related quotes > [I was on a show called '12 Miles of Bad Road' with Lily Tomlin - it was an incredible HBO show. We shot 6…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-coupe/i-was-on-a-show-called-12-miles-of-bad-road-with-lily-tomlin-it-was/) [Eliza Coupe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-coupe/) > [I binge-watched this show Damages. Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are so good. Lily Tomlin is in it. You see all these great actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-binge-watched-this-show-damages-glenn-close-and-rose-byrne-are-so/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I always just wanted to be a movie actress, like Lily Tomlin or Ruth Gordon. I just imagined myself being in a movie, wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/i-always-just-wanted-to-be-a-movie-actress-like-lily-tomlin-or-ruth/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [A lot of people live with no apparent means of support. I kind of envy the musicians up there. 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And sure enough, they get worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-things-are-at-their-blackest-i-say-to-myself-cheer-up-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It doesn't get better, it doesn't get worse, but it sure gets different!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-doesn-t-get-better-it-doesn-t-get-worse-but-it-sure-gets-different/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I slept in last night's clothes and tomorrow's dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fall-out-boy/i-slept-in-last-night-s-clothes-and-tomorrow-s-dreams/) [Fall Out Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fall-out-boy/) > [“Neither Julian nor Emma slept well that night, though each of them thought they were the only one troubled, and the other one was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/neither-julian-nor-emma-slept-well-that-night-though-each-of-them/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I've never slept all night with a girl. 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