--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Have you ever felt stuck because you…" description: "\"“Have you ever felt stuck because you believed you did not really have a choice? Have you ever felt the stress that comes from simultaneously holding t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/greg-mckeown-8740_choice_have-you-ever-felt-stuck-because-you-bel_1936218.jpg" --- # Have you ever felt stuck because you believed you did not… ![“Have you ever felt stuck because you believed you did not really have a choice? Have you ever felt the stress that comes from simultaneously holding two contradictory beliefs: “I can’t do this” and “I have to do this”? Have you ever given up your power to choose bit by bit until you allowed…” quote by Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/greg-mckeown-8740_choice_have-you-ever-felt-stuck-because-you-bel_1936218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/greg-mckeown-8740_choice_have-you-ever-felt-stuck-because-you-bel_1936218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/greg-mckeown-8740_choice_have-you-ever-felt-stuck-because-you-bel_1936218.jpg) > ““Have you ever felt stuck because you believed you did not really have a choice? Have you ever felt the stress that comes from simultaneously holding two contradictory beliefs: “I can’t do this” and “I have to do this”? Have you ever given up your power to choose bit by bit until you allowed yourself to blindly follow a path prescribed by another person? If so, you are not alone. The Invincible Power of Choosing to Choose For too long, we have overemphasized the external aspect of choices (our options) and underemphasized our”” [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often feel trapped by perceived lack of options, but true freedom lies in recognizing our ability to choose our responses and attitudes despite external constraints. **In simple terms:** Freedom comes from choosing how to respond, not just from external options. Key Takeaway Recognize and reclaim your agency in every decision. Themes choice agency psychology self‑determination Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - habit change - conflict resolution Key Concepts internal locus of control cognitive dissonance empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What internal choices can you make right now? - How does recognizing agency change your stress? A Different Perspective If external circumstances are truly limiting, choice alone may not solve the problem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-felt-1567201/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choosing Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing-choose-355986/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Felt Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-stuck-1921869/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) ## Related quotes > [I felt stuck in the bottom of a wishing well. I was desperate to shout what I wanted, but I didn’t know what that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-felt-stuck-in-the-bottom-of-a-wishing-well-i-was-desperate-to-shout/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“When you left me I was lost. I didn’t know what to do, who I was or what I was going to do. Time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man/when-you-left-me-i-was-lost-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-who-i-was-or/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man/) > [I regrettably wasted time at university by being overwhelmed and intimidated by the talent of other composers. I felt stuck and didn't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university-by-being-overwhelmed-and/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [“We felt in control of ourselves, we felt hopeful that we had made the right choice, we felt weary, we felt all of thee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarashea-nesbit/we-felt-in-control-of-ourselves-we-felt-hopeful-that-we-had-made-the/) [TaraShea Nesbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarashea-nesbit/) > [“how much choice the animals technically had was far less important than how much choice they felt they had”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/how-much-choice-the-animals-technically-had-was-far-less-important/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [It's not forever', she'd said, but to my mother, it might as well have been. She had make her choice, and this was it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-s-not-forever-she-d-said-but-to-my-mother-it-might-as-well-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“She had made her choice, and this was it, where she felt safe, in a world she could, for the most part, control. Page 328”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/she-had-made-her-choice-and-this-was-it-where-she-felt-safe-in-a/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“I think that the people I know now believe I went home to take care of my mother because I loved her. And sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-that-the-people-i-know-now-believe-i-went-home-to-take-care/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Starting from where you are now, you choose. And in choosing, you also choose who you will be. 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Simply notice what you've been choosing and choose again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/there-is-no-need-to-punish-yourself-simply-notice-what-you-ve-been/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Picking roles, my way of choosing them is vastly different now than it was a long time ago, but I can only be that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/picking-roles-my-way-of-choosing-them-is-vastly-different-now-than-it/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [“There comes a time in your life when you can no longer put off choosing. You have to choose one path or the other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/there-comes-a-time-in-your-life-when-you-can-no-longer-put-off/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“When you’ve tired of me,” she said softly, precisely, “Apollo will still be my brother. Will still be there for me.” “I’ll never tire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/when-you-ve-tired-of-me-she-said-softly-precisely-apollo-will-still/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) ## More by Greg McKeown > [If I didn’t already own this, how much would I spend to buy it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/if-i-didn-t-already-own-this-how-much-would-i-spend-to-buy-it/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [The word priority was singular for 500 years—what does priorities mean—'many many first things.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/the-word-priority-was-singular-for-500-years-what-does-priorities/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“Sleep will enhance your ability to explore, make connections, and do less but better throughout your waking hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/sleep-will-enhance-your-ability-to-explore-make-connections-and-do/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“Of course, nobody likes to be bored. 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It stayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/the-word-priority-came-into-the-english-language-in-the-1400s-it-was-2/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/essentialism-is-not-about-how-to-get-more-things-done-it-s-about-how/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“the faintest pencil is better than the strongest memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/the-faintest-pencil-is-better-than-the-strongest-memory/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“I have since gathered data from more than five hundred individuals about their experience on more than one thousand teams. I asked them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/i-have-since-gathered-data-from-more-than-five-hundred-individuals/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [Take a deep breath. Get present in the moment and ask yourself what is important this very second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/take-a-deep-breath-get-present-in-the-moment-and-ask-yourself-what-is/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“Less but better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/less-but-better/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“For the first time, they will have to manage themselves. And society is totally unprepared for it.”4”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/for-the-first-time-they-will-have-to-manage-themselves-and-society-is/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“I must apologize: if I had more time I would have written a shorter letter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/i-must-apologize-if-i-had-more-time-i-would-have-written-a-shorter/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [“up in four predictable phases:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/up-in-four-predictable-phases/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) [Explore all 76 Greg McKeown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Have you ever felt stuck because you believed you did not really have a choice? 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