--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything that we do to make ourselves…" description: "\"Anything that we do to make ourselves feel worthy and safe is a flight from the pain of powerlessness. Every pursuit of external power - every attempt ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/gary-zukav-714_change_anything-that-we-do-to-make-ourselves-fe_746353.png" --- # Anything that we do to make ourselves feel worthy and safe… ![“Anything that we do to make ourselves feel worthy and safe is a flight from the pain of powerlessness. Every pursuit of external power - every attempt to change the world or a person in order to make yourself feel valuable and safe - is a distraction from the pain of powerlessness.” quote by Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/gary-zukav-714_change_anything-that-we-do-to-make-ourselves-fe_746353.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/gary-zukav-714_change_anything-that-we-do-to-make-ourselves-fe_746353.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/gary-zukav-714_change_anything-that-we-do-to-make-ourselves-fe_746353.png) > “Anything that we do to make ourselves feel worthy and safe is a flight from the pain of powerlessness. Every pursuit of external power - every attempt to change the world or a person in order to make yourself feel valuable and safe - is a distraction from the pain of powerlessness.” [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We seek external validation to avoid feeling powerless, but this distracts from confronting that pain. **In simple terms:** We chase power to feel safe, avoiding inner helplessness. Key Takeaway Recognize and sit with powerlessness. Themes self-awareness psychology power self-worth distraction Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal growth - leadership challenges - relationship conflicts Key Concepts existentialism self-acceptance inner work Questions to Reflect On - How can you face feelings of powerlessness constructively? - What safe practices help you feel worthy without external power? A Different Perspective Ignoring powerlessness can lead to unhealthy coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Powerlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerlessness/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We are becoming able to see the pursuit of external power for what it is and the futility of trying to escape the pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/we-are-becoming-able-to-see-the-pursuit-of-external-power-for-what-it/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The pain of powerlessness is excruciating. It is the most painful experience in the earth school, and everyone shares it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-pain-of-powerlessness-is-excruciating-it-is-the-most-painful/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [ “\[THE DAILY BREATH\] Do you feel unworthy? Undeserving to be loved, to feel enough, to fulfil your dreams? A scientific study performed worldwide during… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/the-daily-breath-do-you-feel-unworthy-undeserving-to-be-loved-to-feel/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [“Andy Scamp's simple list of the ways people feel valuable. 1. Just believing it. Sometimes this is religious, sometimes it is not. God cares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/andy-scamp-s-simple-list-of-the-ways-people-feel-valuable-1-just/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [The time and the quality of the time that their parents devote to them indicate to children the degree to which they are valued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/the-time-and-the-quality-of-the-time-that-their-parents-devote-to/) [M. 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We forget to ask for help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-daniels/a-closed-mouth-doesn-t-get-fed-oftentimes-we-feel-not-worthy-or-we/) [Kevin Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-daniels/) > [“You have to learn to love yourself before you can love someone else. Because it's only when we love ourselves that we feel worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-b-sheinmel/you-have-to-learn-to-love-yourself-before-you-can-love-someone-else/) Alyssa B. 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