--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever I'm trying to decide how to…" description: "\"Whenever I'm trying to decide how to spend my precious time, energy, or money, I ask myself a series of questions. 'Will this broaden or deepen my rela..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/gretchen-rubin-867_ask_whenever-i-m-trying-to-decide-how-to-spe_2098834.png" --- # Whenever I'm trying to decide how to spend my precious… ![“Whenever I'm trying to decide how to spend my precious time, energy, or money, I ask myself a series of questions. 'Will this broaden or deepen my relationships?' 'Will this contribute to an atmosphere of growth in my life?' 'Is this a way to 'Be Gretchen?' and 'Will this help connect me to my…” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/gretchen-rubin-867_ask_whenever-i-m-trying-to-decide-how-to-spe_2098834.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/gretchen-rubin-867_ask_whenever-i-m-trying-to-decide-how-to-spe_2098834.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/gretchen-rubin-867_ask_whenever-i-m-trying-to-decide-how-to-spe_2098834.png) > “Whenever I'm trying to decide how to spend my precious time, energy, or money, I ask myself a series of questions. 'Will this broaden or deepen my relationships?' 'Will this contribute to an atmosphere of growth in my life?' 'Is this a way to 'Be Gretchen?' and 'Will this help connect me to my past?'” [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. She uses four reflective questions to evaluate whether an activity enriches relationships, fosters personal growth, aligns with her identity, or connects to her past. **In simple terms:** Ask four questions to decide if something adds value to life. Key Takeaway Use these questions before committing time, energy, or money. Themes self‑reflection decision‑making values growth Mood thoughtful intentional Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - choosing hobbies - budgeting - volunteering - career moves - travel planning Key Concepts personal development relationship building identity alignment Questions to Reflect On - Which question most often blocks you? - How can you balance spontaneity with reflection? A Different Perspective May overlook spontaneous opportunities that don’t fit the framework. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) [Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) [Broaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broaden/) [Connect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connect/) [Contribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribute/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Deepen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deepen/) [Deepen Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deepen-relationships-2818682/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Gretchen Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gretchen-help-4183743/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Precious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious/) [Precious time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-time/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Questions Broaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-broaden-4183742/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Relationships Contribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships-contribute-1085425/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-decide-253088/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whenever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whenever/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [A new world of complex relationships and feelings opens up when the peer group takes its place alongside the family as the emotional focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-greenspan/a-new-world-of-complex-relationships-and-feelings-opens-up-when-the/) [Stanley Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-greenspan/) > [“Insightful questions build credibility and deepen relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-konrath/insightful-questions-build-credibility-and-deepen-relationships/) [Jill Konrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-konrath/) > [I embrace treats, but I'm also very wary of treats. Treats help us feel energized, appreciated, and enthusiastic - but very often, the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-embrace-treats-but-i-m-also-very-wary-of-treats-treats-help-us-feel/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I'm trying to make the box, trying to be more ruthless, more clinical, and trying to decide games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-m-trying-to-make-the-box-trying-to-be-more-ruthless-more-clinical/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [Lying in bed in the middle of the night trying to decide if its worth it to get up and pee or if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lying-in-bed-in-the-middle-of-the-night-trying-to-decide-if-its-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I'm on a second date with a girl, I'll ask myself, 'Can I marry this person?' And we're just trying to decide between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-eggold/when-i-m-on-a-second-date-with-a-girl-i-ll-ask-myself-can-i-marry/) [Ryan Eggold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-eggold/) > [“I’m going to kill you either way. I’m just trying to decide if I should let her ass-fuck you with a tree branch first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-del-mia/i-m-going-to-kill-you-either-way-i-m-just-trying-to-decide-if-i/) [Leighton Del Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-del-mia/) > [Stock speculation is largely a matter of A trying to decide what B, C and D are likely to think-with B, C and D…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/stock-speculation-is-largely-a-matter-of-a-trying-to-decide-what-b-c/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Trying to decide what one thing I love about you the most is like trying to choose the best pebble on the beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-decide-what-one-thing-i-love-about-you-the-most-is-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Someone drew you wings a long time ago and you’ve been trying to decide whether to fly away ever since.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/someone-drew-you-wings-a-long-time-ago-and-you-ve-been-trying-to/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [We're all trying to decide whether your scores up there are a miracle or a mistake." "A habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-all-trying-to-decide-whether-your-scores-up-there-are-a-miracle/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [From SpongeBob to Finding Nemo ... I'm still trying to decide which one I like more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-federline/from-spongebob-to-finding-nemo-i-m-still-trying-to-decide-which-one-i/) [Kevin Federline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-federline/) > [He is trying to decide which of two daydreams he will inhabit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hammill/he-is-trying-to-decide-which-of-two-daydreams-he-will-inhabit/) [Peter Hammill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hammill/) > [I'm trying to decide whether to be happy or sad. We have to be better than this or we will struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-richt/i-m-trying-to-decide-whether-to-be-happy-or-sad-we-have-to-be-better/) [Mark Richt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-richt/) > [What I have now are good problems of trying to decide and what I really want to do is good work next. My phone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/what-i-have-now-are-good-problems-of-trying-to-decide-and-what-i/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) ## 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 Ask quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-ask-to-be-judged-on-the-issue-of-unemployment/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [When the only people in mainstream discourse who care about the working class are Wall Street investors, it really is time to ask where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-only-people-in-mainstream-discourse-who-care-about-the/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. 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I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. I always ask the producers: 'Are there no 70-year old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/i-m-not-in-the-movie-business-anymore-and-hardly-any-70-year-olds-are/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [I would ask my mum to feed my dolls and make sure they were tucked in when I went to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-would-ask-my-mum-to-feed-my-dolls-and-make-sure-they-were-tucked-in/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) [Browse all 1,306 Ask quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever I'm trying to decide how to spend my precious time, energy, or money, I ask myself a series of questions. 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