--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've come to realize that when people are…" description: "\"I've come to realize that when people are not reaching their highest potential or whatever goals they set out for themselves, they're more inclined whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/eric-thomas-1758_goal_i-ve-come-to-realize-that-when-people-ar_3158867.png" --- # I've come to realize that when people are not reaching… ![“I've come to realize that when people are not reaching their highest potential or whatever goals they set out for themselves, they're more inclined when they're going through pain. When they're going through a negative situation. They're more inclined to hear me than when they're doing well.” quote by Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/eric-thomas-1758_goal_i-ve-come-to-realize-that-when-people-ar_3158867.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/eric-thomas-1758_goal_i-ve-come-to-realize-that-when-people-ar_3158867.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/eric-thomas-1758_goal_i-ve-come-to-realize-that-when-people-ar_3158867.png) > “I've come to realize that when people are not reaching their highest potential or whatever goals they set out for themselves, they're more inclined when they're going through pain. When they're going through a negative situation. They're more inclined to hear me than when they're doing well.” [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People in pain are more receptive to guidance, making hardship a catalyst for personal growth and goal pursuit. **In simple terms:** Pain makes people listen and change. Key Takeaway Use adversity as a learning opportunity. Themes motivation resilience growth pain Mood encouraging empathetic practical Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - coaching sessions - rehabilitation programs - personal development workshops - educational seminars Key Concepts psychology behavior change goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How can we support those in pain without exploiting it? - What strategies help turn discomfort into motivation? A Different Perspective Not everyone responds positively to pressure; some may shut down. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Going Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-negative-331650/) [Going Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-pain-920409/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Inclined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inclined/) [Inclined Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inclined-going-5702012/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situation Inclined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-inclined-5702011/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Certainly political capital-slash-celebrity attention, whatever you want to call it, certainly is part of the reason why I've been reaching out to CEOs. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/certainly-political-capital-slash-celebrity-attention-whatever-you/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [Of course when you voice your opinions, there are going to be negative things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/of-course-when-you-voice-your-opinions-there-are-going-to-be-negative/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I learned that when you stand up for what you believe in, you'll get a lot of support. But there are always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-learned-that-when-you-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-you-ll-get-a/) [Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/) > [Going back into the negative past to find happiness is like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-banks/going-back-into-the-negative-past-to-find-happiness-is-like-trying-to/) [Sydney Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-banks/) > [If you're running around with a negative attitude all the time, you're going to feel down, you're going to have negative results. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sager/if-you-re-running-around-with-a-negative-attitude-all-the-time-you-re/) [Craig Sager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sager/) > [When I was a kid, I was in all 'The Mighty Ducks' movies, and that sort of created this weird thing when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elden-henson/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-in-all-the-mighty-ducks-movies-and-that-sort/) [Elden Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elden-henson/) > [If we are negative by nature, we Americans are more human than most. The Founding Fathers loved going negative. Heck, the Declaration of Independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/if-we-are-negative-by-nature-we-americans-are-more-human-than-most/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [People are always going to be negative when they mention my name, but I can accept that and that's what makes it easier for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/people-are-always-going-to-be-negative-when-they-mention-my-name-but/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [No matter what you do, people are always going to have something negative to say about it. You could spend your life constantly trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-mongeau/no-matter-what-you-do-people-are-always-going-to-have-something/) [Tana Mongeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-mongeau/) > [I am absolutely against positive thinking. You will be surprised that if you don't choose, if you remain in a choiceless awareness, your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-am-absolutely-against-positive-thinking-you-will-be-surprised-that/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I see a sea of millions of people going down with their own negative thoughts, going down for the third time in this big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/i-see-a-sea-of-millions-of-people-going-down-with-their-own-negative/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [If you deny the fact that things are happening to you, that this is going on, whether it's negative or positive, you're just putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-happening-to-you-that-this-is/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I'm African-American. There are more eyes on me than anybody. They're going to take the negative before the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/i-m-african-american-there-are-more-eyes-on-me-than-anybody-they-re/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [I guess you've just got to take it because there is always going to be negative criticism and positive. But I think both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-shaw/i-guess-you-ve-just-got-to-take-it-because-there-is-always-going-to/) [Luke Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-shaw/) > [If you're running around with a negative attitude all the time, you're going to feel down; you're going to have negative results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sager/if-you-re-running-around-with-a-negative-attitude-all-the-time-you-re-2/) [Craig Sager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sager/) ## More by Eric Thomas > [Your relationships will either make you or break you and there is no such thing as a neutral relationship. People either inspire you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/your-relationships-will-either-make-you-or-break-you-and-there-is-no/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [At some point in life you have to face your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/at-some-point-in-life-you-have-to-face-your-fears/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [When you're great! You attract great! When you're average! You attract average!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-you-re-great-you-attract-great-when-you-re-average-you-attract/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“It's not easy, but it's simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/it-s-not-easy-but-it-s-simple/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I kind of knew that there were a lot of people that didn't go to church and normally wouldn't listen to people, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-kind-of-knew-that-there-were-a-lot-of-people-that-didn-t-go-to/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Las Vegas doesn't allow ( tourism ) to dictate the social norms of their community. We don't have to be a boring town that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/las-vegas-doesn-t-allow-tourism-to-dictate-the-social-norms-of-their/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Where there is no struggle, there is absolutely no progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/where-there-is-no-struggle-there-is-absolutely-no-progress/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [You can change environments, but until you change yourself, nothing else will ever change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/you-can-change-environments-but-until-you-change-yourself-nothing/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [If you are going to win the fight of your life, you can't be afraid to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/if-you-are-going-to-win-the-fight-of-your-life-you-can-t-be-afraid-to/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Apply the ABC’s of success to your life. Ask, Believe and Claim It.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/apply-the-abc-s-of-success-to-your-life-ask-believe-and-claim-it/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“IDENTIFY your CHALLENGE area. Describe the thoughts that you commonly have in that area. Describe the things that you commonly say concerning that area…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/identify-your-challenge-area-describe-the-thoughts-that-you-commonly/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [If you sleep,you will miss the OPPORTUNITY to be successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/if-you-sleep-you-will-miss-the-opportunity-to-be-successful/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Sometimes it ain’t about being the most talented. Sometimes it ain’t about being the smartest. Sometimes it’s not even about working the hardest. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/sometimes-it-ain-t-about-being-the-most-talented-sometimes-it-ain-t/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [The difference between those who succeed and fail: not taking advantage of opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/the-difference-between-those-who-succeed-and-fail-not-taking/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I think my greatest strengths are my hands. I am also good at getting separation from the defender and finding ways to get open.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-think-my-greatest-strengths-are-my-hands-i-am-also-good-at-getting/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) [Explore all 210 Eric Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## More Goal quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“my role my goal my dream my life not yours -all mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-sisk/my-role-my-goal-my-dream-my-life-not-yours-all-mine/) [Emi Sisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emi-sisk/) > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Everybody tries to score a great goal, and I am lucky I have netted a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/everybody-tries-to-score-a-great-goal-and-i-am-lucky-i-have-netted-a/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [When you look around the room during meetings and practice, you see that everyone has the same goal. It's obvious by the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kendricks/when-you-look-around-the-room-during-meetings-and-practice-you-see/) [Eric Kendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kendricks/) > [I like to wake up and just feel gratitude. Gratitude for waking up, for my health, for my kids, for my family. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-like-to-wake-up-and-just-feel-gratitude-gratitude-for-waking-up-for/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) [Dayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayana/) > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) [Browse all 9,890 Goal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've come to realize that when people are not reaching their highest potential or whatever goals they set out for themselves, they're more inclined when they're going through pain. When they're going through a negative situation. 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