--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Emotions are our spontaneous response to…" description: "\"Emotions are our spontaneous response to life. We have these emotions, but if the emotion is a negative emotion, then I have a choice to say, \"I am fee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/gary-chapman-1325_choices_emotions-are-our-spontaneous-response-to_2054691.png" --- # Emotions are our spontaneous response to life. We have… ![“Emotions are our spontaneous response to life. We have these emotions, but if the emotion is a negative emotion, then I have a choice to say, "I am feeling sad tonight because this happened, but I am not going to let my sadness keep me from engaging my wife in conversation. "” quote by Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/gary-chapman-1325_choices_emotions-are-our-spontaneous-response-to_2054691.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/gary-chapman-1325_choices_emotions-are-our-spontaneous-response-to_2054691.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/gary-chapman-1325_choices_emotions-are-our-spontaneous-response-to_2054691.png) > “Emotions are our spontaneous response to life. We have these emotions, but if the emotion is a negative emotion, then I have a choice to say, "I am feeling sad tonight because this happened, but I am not going to let my sadness keep me from engaging my wife in conversation. "” [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emotions arise automatically, but we can choose how to act on them, especially negative ones, by not letting them dictate our behavior. **In simple terms:** We can control actions despite feelings. Key Takeaway Choose actions, not emotions. Themes emotional intelligence choice relationships Mood reflective empathetic Type advice self‑help When to use this quote - marriage discussions - conflict resolution - personal growth - stressful events Key Concepts self-regulation mindfulness agency Questions to Reflect On - How can you separate feeling from response? - What strategies help you act despite sadness? A Different Perspective Negative emotions can still impair judgment if not recognized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Feeling sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sad/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Negative emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-emotions/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [We would never move forward in the face of negative emotion. There are many people who would teach you otherwise. 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And they are on the same meter: allowance; resistance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/negative-emotion-is-your-indicator-of-resistance-while-positive/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“You first need to let go of all the emotion and negative energy with the entire situation that you are dealing with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/you-first-need-to-let-go-of-all-the-emotion-and-negative-energy-with/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [“emotion, and that negative moments are like scribbling with permanent marker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/emotion-and-that-negative-moments-are-like-scribbling-with-permanent/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Gary Chapman > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. 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