--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Habit allows us to go from 'before' to…" description: "\"Habit allows us to go from 'before' to 'after,' to make life easier and better. Habit is notorious - and rightly so - for its ability to direct our act..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png" --- # Habit allows us to go from 'before' to 'after,' to make… ![“Habit allows us to go from 'before' to 'after,' to make life easier and better. Habit is notorious - and rightly so - for its ability to direct our actions, even against our will; but by mindfully shaping our habits, we can harness the power of mindlessness as a sweeping force for serenity…” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png) > “Habit allows us to go from 'before' to 'after,' to make life easier and better. Habit is notorious - and rightly so - for its ability to direct our actions, even against our will; but by mindfully shaping our habits, we can harness the power of mindlessness as a sweeping force for serenity, energy, and growth.” [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Habits streamline life but can dominate will; mindful habit shaping turns mindlessness into serenity and growth. **In simple terms:** Mindful habits turn autopilot into growth. Key Takeaway Shape habits with intention. Themes habit mindfulness growth Mood reflective hopeful Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - goal setting - personal development Key Concepts behavioral science self‑control Questions to Reflect On - Which habit limits you? - How can you redesign it? A Different Perspective Changing habits can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-mind/) [Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serenity/) ## Related quotes > [“by mindfully shaping our habits, we can harness the power of mindlessness as a sweeping force for serenity, energy, and growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/by-mindfully-shaping-our-habits-we-can-harness-the-power-of/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [The only way to break a bad habit was to replace it with a better habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/the-only-way-to-break-a-bad-habit-was-to-replace-it-with-a-better/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I think of empathy as a set of cumulative effects, ideally - that it can be a force shaping your habits, shaping where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jamison/i-think-of-empathy-as-a-set-of-cumulative-effects-ideally-that-it-can/) [Leslie Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jamison/) > [“Letter writing is a habit that allows us to explore new trails all our lives. Each day is a fresh new adventure when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/letter-writing-is-a-habit-that-allows-us-to-explore-new-trails-all/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“Habit enables us to cling to the familiar, to the self we think we know with a persistence almost irresistible. An anodyne for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-moss/habit-enables-us-to-cling-to-the-familiar-to-the-self-we-think-we/) Howard Moss > [“By mindfully choosing our habits, we harness the power of mindlessness as a sweeping force for serenity, energy, and growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/by-mindfully-choosing-our-habits-we-harness-the-power-of-mindlessness/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I may discuss contemporary cinema, how to shop at a mall without losing energy, how to use the power of mind to increase career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-may-discuss-contemporary-cinema-how-to-shop-at-a-mall-without/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you are serious about sports and athletics then you need to begin the discipline of mind. With the power of mind, almost anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-serious-about-sports-and-athletics-then-you-need-to-begin/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The power of HEART is much stronger than the power of MIND to empower our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-power-of-heart-is-much-stronger-than-the-power-of-mind-to-empower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is an exercise in power - the power of mind over matter. If you don't mind being inadequate, it doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/this-is-an-exercise-in-power-the-power-of-mind-over-matter-if-you-don/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [I'd want to have the power of mind control. If I had that one skill you'd always see at the bank loading up bags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-d-want-to-have-the-power-of-mind-control-if-i-had-that-one-skill/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [“Mindfulness increases the awareness of the Nature of the Mind. If we learn to Control our Mind and Listen to our Souls we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasa-pantovic-nuit/mindfulness-increases-the-awareness-of-the-nature-of-the-mind-if-we/) [Natasa Pantovic Nuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasa-pantovic-nuit/) > [“Being a fool is a billion times better than being blinded by the illusion of intellect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/being-a-fool-is-a-billion-times-better-than-being-blinded-by-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [ Let us realise \[that\] we are the infinite power. Who put a limit to the power of mind? Let us realise we are all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-us-realise-that-we-are-the-infinite-power-who-put-a-limit-to-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Power of mind is infinite while brawn is limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koichi-tohei/power-of-mind-is-infinite-while-brawn-is-limited/) [Koichi Tohei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koichi-tohei/) ## More by Gretchen Rubin > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-the-findings-that-really-interests-me-is-that-although-we/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/we-all-want-to-get-along-well-with-other-people-and-one-way-to-do/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/during-my-study-of-happiness-i-noticed-something-that-surprised-me-i/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-is-a-preppy-wabi-sabi-to-soft-faded-khakis-and-cotton-shirts/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-observed-william-edward/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) [Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Habit allows us to go from 'before' to 'after,' to make life easier and better. Habit is notorious - and rightly so - for its ability to direct our actions, even against our will; but by mindfully shaping our habits, we can harness the power of mindlessness as a sweeping force for serenity, energy, and growth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gretchen Rubin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-after-to-make-life-easier-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-after-to-make-life-easier-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/gretchen-rubin-867_ability_habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-aft_3052641.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Habit allows us to go from 'before' to 'after,' to make life easier and better. Habit is notorious - and…” — Gretchen Rubin", "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": "Gretchen Rubin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Habit allows us to go from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-after-to-make-life-easier-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/habit-allows-us-to-go-from-before-to-after-to-make-life-easier-and/#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 } } ] } ```