---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, my body is not a machine and I do…"
description: "\"Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments when I think 'Why am I doing this?' I think it's common among athletes and I'm sure people do ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg"
---

#  Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments…

![“Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments when I think 'Why am I doing this?' I think it's common among athletes and I'm sure people do experience it at work as well.” quote by Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg)

> “Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments when I think 'Why am I doing this?' I think it's common among athletes and I'm sure people do experience it at work as well.”

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker acknowledges feeling like a machine at times, questioning purpose, a noting this doubt is common among athletes and workers.

**In simple terms:** Even high performers doubt their purpose; it’s a shared human experience.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address purpose doubts.

Themes

performance purpose self‑doubt

Mood

introspective empathetic

Type

motivational supportive

When to use this quote

- athlete training
- workplace stress
- career reflection

Key Concepts

psychology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your purpose doubts?
- How do you reframe them positively?

A Different Perspective

Purpose doubt can hinder performance if unaddressed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Common Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-athletes-4325401/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Doing Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-think-1004110/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Machine Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine-moments-3881083/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Moments Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments-think-349002/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-experience-334887/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sometimes we have “time machine moments” where we wish we could go back in time and fix our biggest mistakes. But sometimes we wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-nayyar/sometimes-we-have-time-machine-moments-where-we-wish-we-could-go-back/)

[Kunal Nayyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-nayyar/)

> [Here is this ability to explore ideas, but with minute changes, and then look at the results. Often you get so excited about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/here-is-this-ability-to-explore-ideas-but-with-minute-changes-and/)

[Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/)

> [It present to allow me to ask myself questions about what I'm doing. I think that's what visual art does - it either reminds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-arianda/it-present-to-allow-me-to-ask-myself-questions-about-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Nina Arianda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-arianda/)

> [If you're doing what you think people might like, rather than doing what you like, people will see through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-doing-what-you-think-people-might-like-rather-than-doing/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's a good thing to imagine yourself doing something you think you can't. I do that every day because, basically, if I had it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/it-s-a-good-thing-to-imagine-yourself-doing-something-you-think-you/)

[Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/)

> [I definitely think as much as I race and so many different types of cars that I run - and having success doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-larson/i-definitely-think-as-much-as-i-race-and-so-many-different-types-of/)

[Kyle Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-larson/)

> [Don't assume that the answers are out there in the form of somebody else already doing something. Sometimes they are. But you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-johnson/don-t-assume-that-the-answers-are-out-there-in-the-form-of-somebody/)

[Abigail Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-johnson/)

> [I wouldn't say we were doing that. I think we probably stopped thinking. Though it took a while to stop thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-wouldn-t-say-we-were-doing-that-i-think-we-probably-stopped/)

[David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/)

> [It's impossible for me to feel like there's only one way to do a thing. There's nothing wrong with having one way of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-montgomery/it-s-impossible-for-me-to-feel-like-there-s-only-one-way-to-do-a/)

[Wes Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-montgomery/)

> [“Anything not worth doing is worth not doing well. Think about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-schwartz/anything-not-worth-doing-is-worth-not-doing-well-think-about-it/)

[Elias Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-schwartz/)

> [ Every university…seem\[s\] to reassure you that ‘it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do it well.’ That is completely false. It… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/every-university-seem-s-to-reassure-you-that-it-doesn-t-matter-what/)

[Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/)

> [When I think about doing something, I think: Will I survive a million out of a million times?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/when-i-think-about-doing-something-i-think-will-i-survive-a-million/)

[Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/)

> [I always try to do as much as I can do. I'm never a person that does not enough, because I'd regret not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/i-always-try-to-do-as-much-as-i-can-do-i-m-never-a-person-that-does/)

[Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/)

> [“You should focus relentlessly on something you’re good at doing, but before that you must think hard about whether it will be valuable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/you-should-focus-relentlessly-on-something-you-re-good-at-doing-but/)

[Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/)

> [If you gave me the choice of being CEO of General Electric or IBM or General Motors, you name it, or delivering papers, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-you-gave-me-the-choice-of-being-ceo-of-general-electric-or-ibm-or/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

## More by Ellie Simmonds

> [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [As an older woman now, I feel the pressure more, I feel all those different aspects, I'm more aware of that. Whereas as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/as-an-older-woman-now-i-feel-the-pressure-more-i-feel-all-those/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I recently met Michael Phelps. He is my absolute idol. I was totally starstruck. I did manage to get a few words out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-recently-met-michael-phelps-he-is-my-absolute-idol-i-was-totally/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [My plan of going to Tokyo has gone out of the window, but I was able to spend three to four months with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/my-plan-of-going-to-tokyo-has-gone-out-of-the-window-but-i-was-able/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Our parents were very generous, and they always encouraged us to find something we enjoyed and really get into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/our-parents-were-very-generous-and-they-always-encouraged-us-to-find/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I love 'Come Dine With Me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-love-come-dine-with-me/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I think people shouldn't think 'I'm not normal, I've got a disability.' Overcome that, go out there and enjoy your life and achieve something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-think-people-shouldn-t-think-i-m-not-normal-i-ve-got-a-disability/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Coming into London having the experience of Beijing is really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/coming-into-london-having-the-experience-of-beijing-is-really-good/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I don't want to be stuck up. I'm just a normal person. My friends think of me as a normal friend, and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-don-t-want-to-be-stuck-up-i-m-just-a-normal-person-my-friends-think/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Sometimes I'll get reminded that I promote Paralympic sport and Paralympics GB. Yes, I have a role but I don't feel like an idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/sometimes-i-ll-get-reminded-that-i-promote-paralympic-sport-and/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [It drives me forward knowing people are watching me and I have to swim well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/it-drives-me-forward-knowing-people-are-watching-me-and-i-have-to/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I'm studying psychology at Loughborough and there are so many sportspeople here - you actually see top athletes walking around - but people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-m-studying-psychology-at-loughborough-and-there-are-so-many/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I've achieved my dream of getting a Paralympic gold medal and I'm very lucky that I've been to three Games where I've come away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-achieved-my-dream-of-getting-a-paralympic-gold-medal-and-i-m/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Monday to Fridays I'm practically an athlete every hour of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/monday-to-fridays-i-m-practically-an-athlete-every-hour-of-the-day/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [I'm quite shy at school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-m-quite-shy-at-school/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

[Explore all 98 Ellie Simmonds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

## More Body quotes

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/)

[Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/)

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/)

[Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/)

> [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/)

[Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/)

> [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/)

> [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/)

[Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/)

[Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/)

> [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

[Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments when I think 'Why am I doing this?' I think it's common among athletes and I'm sure people do experience it at work as well.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ellie Simmonds"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-get-those-moments-when-i-think/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Body"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-get-those-moments-when-i-think/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/ellie-simmonds-6734_body_yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-ge_1309082.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Yes, my body is not a machine and I do get those moments when I think 'Why am I doing this?' I think it's…” — Ellie Simmonds",
                "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": "Ellie Simmonds",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Yes, my body is not a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-get-those-moments-when-i-think/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/yes-my-body-is-not-a-machine-and-i-do-get-those-moments-when-i-think/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
