---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are so used to considering everything…"
description: "\"“We are so used to considering everything through the prism of our current feelings and our most recent acquisitions that it is a radical change to con..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg"
---

#  We are so used to considering everything through the prism…

![“We are so used to considering everything through the prism of our current feelings and our most recent acquisitions that it is a radical change to consider the vast before . But if we would live well, it is necessary.” quote by Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg)

> ““We are so used to considering everything through the prism of our current feelings and our most recent acquisitions that it is a radical change to consider the vast before . But if we would live well, it is necessary.””

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

## About This Quote

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

Living well requires stepping beyond personal feelings and material concerns to contemplate the larger, timeless reality.

**In simple terms:** Consider the vast before personal needs.

Key Takeaway

Broaden perspective beyond immediate emotions.

Themes

philosophy spirituality mindfulness

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- ethical decision making
- long‑term planning

Key Concepts

existentialism holistic living

Questions to Reflect On

- How might you practice seeing beyond current feelings?
- What larger purpose could guide your daily choices?

A Different Perspective

It can be hard to detach from immediate emotions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-consider-3772072/) [Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider/) [Consider Vast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-vast-4476571/) [Considering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considering/) [Live well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-well/) [Radical change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical-change/)

## Related quotes

> [You should consider an employment change before you consider selling out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/you-should-consider-an-employment-change-before-you-consider-selling/)

[Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/)

> [“If we can keep that flexibility of mind, that hospitality toward new ideas, we will be able to welcome the new flow of thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-can-keep-that-flexibility-of-mind-that-hospitality-toward-new/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [“Those seeking political and economic change should consider embracing art. Part of our role as citizens is to look more closely at the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-taplin/those-seeking-political-and-economic-change-should-consider-embracing/)

[Jonathan Taplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-taplin/)

> [“Above all, consider this: The greatest gift we can give ourselves, our children, and our world is to live well and love well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-katehakis/above-all-consider-this-the-greatest-gift-we-can-give-ourselves-our/)

[Alexandra Katehakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-katehakis/)

> [“Though he knew he was taking a big risk with Ford, he had no choice. He was certain that the company could not get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-michaels/though-he-knew-he-was-taking-a-big-risk-with-ford-he-had-no-choice-he/)

[Tibor Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-michaels/)

> [The problem is that it takes physicians so long to accept a radical change. And the lag is unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/the-problem-is-that-it-takes-physicians-so-long-to-accept-a-radical/)

[Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/)

> [“To most people any radical change is even more odious than cynicism. The only way between the horns of dilemma is to persist at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-most-people-any-radical-change-is-even-more-odious-than-cynicism/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [I believe there are huge numbers of people in this country who would be willing to have radical changes in our economic and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-believe-there-are-huge-numbers-of-people-in-this-country-who-would/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [Life as such has to be taken as a cosmic joke - and then suddenly you relax because there is nothing to be tense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-as-such-has-to-be-taken-as-a-cosmic-joke-and-then-suddenly-you/)

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

> [Conservatives hold on to things not only because they are attached to them, but also because they do not see the sense in radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/conservatives-hold-on-to-things-not-only-because-they-are-attached-to/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“Times are changing, and we must change with them. The twenty-first-century church does and will continually face radical change and much uncertainity with undefined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-raimo/times-are-changing-and-we-must-change-with-them-the-twenty-first/)

[Steve Raimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-raimo/)

> [As you get to the end of the project you want to run all the tests cases against one version and make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/as-you-get-to-the-end-of-the-project-you-want-to-run-all-the-tests/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [Do we have to wait until a disaster overwhelms us before we make the radical changes necessary to protect our world for future generations?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gummer/do-we-have-to-wait-until-a-disaster-overwhelms-us-before-we-make-the/)

[John Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gummer/)

> [We cannot 'fix' the police without a revolution of values and radical change to the basic structure of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/we-cannot-fix-the-police-without-a-revolution-of-values-and-radical/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

## More by Eugene H. Peterson

> [“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/forget-about-deciding-what-s-right-for-each-other-here-s-what-you/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“The core message of the gospel is that God invades us with new life, but the setting for this is most often in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-core-message-of-the-gospel-is-that-god-invades-us-with-new-life/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“Liturgy puts us to work along with all the others who have been and are being put to work in the world by and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-puts-us-to-work-along-with-all-the-others-who-have-been-and/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, For you, GOD, have put my life back together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/at-day-s-end-i-m-ready-for-sound-sleep-for-you-god-have-put-my-life/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [I think pastors are the worst listeners. We're so used to speaking, teaching, giving answers. We must learn to be quiet, quit being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/i-think-pastors-are-the-worst-listeners-we-re-so-used-to-speaking/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“When I look for help in developing my pastoral craft and nurturing my pastoral vocation, the one century that has the least to commend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/when-i-look-for-help-in-developing-my-pastoral-craft-and-nurturing-my/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [Religion is a very scary thing, because a pastor is in a position of power. And if you use that power badly, you ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/religion-is-a-very-scary-thing-because-a-pastor-is-in-a-position-of/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [The vocation of pastor(s) has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-vocation-of-pastor-s-has-been-replaced-by-the-strategies-of/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/repentance-is-a-realization-that-what-god-wants-from-you-and-what-you/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [It's essential for us to develop an imagination that is participatory. Art is the primary way in which this happens. It's the primary way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/it-s-essential-for-us-to-develop-an-imagination-that-is-participatory/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“My uncle Ernie didn't believe in God. At least that's what he said. But he always Went to church on Christmas. Which I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/my-uncle-ernie-didn-t-believe-in-god-at-least-that-s-what-he-said-but/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/you-don-t-make-your-words-true-by-embellishing-them-with-religious/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“And the remainder of the Message details God’s intricate and loving plan to redeem, restore, and reconcile creation back to himself after what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/and-the-remainder-of-the-message-details-god-s-intricate-and-loving/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

[Explore all 210 Eugene H. Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

[Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/)

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

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

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We are so used to considering everything through the prism of our current feelings and our most recent acquisitions that it is a radical change to consider the vast before . But if we would live well, it is necessary.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eugene H. Peterson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything-through-the-prism-of-our/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything-through-the-prism-of-our/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/eugene-h-peterson-1745_change_we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything_2143911.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We are so used to considering everything through the prism of our current feelings and our most recent…” — Eugene H. Peterson",
                "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": "Eugene H. Peterson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We are so used to considering...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything-through-the-prism-of-our/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/we-are-so-used-to-considering-everything-through-the-prism-of-our/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
