--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The next time you catch yourself starting…" description: "\"The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad about anything, immediately stop everything you are doing for a moment and, as simply and as hone..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png" --- # The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad… ![“The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad about anything, immediately stop everything you are doing for a moment and, as simply and as honestly as you can, ask yourself: "Is this what I really want?” quote by Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png) > “The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad about anything, immediately stop everything you are doing for a moment and, as simply and as honestly as you can, ask yourself: "Is this what I really want?” [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When negative feelings arise, pause and honestly ask if they serve your true desires, preventing unnecessary suffering. **In simple terms:** Question your feelings. Key Takeaway Check if emotions match your goals. Themes self‑reflection mindfulness emotional intelligence Mood contemplative calming Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - stress moments - conflict - creative blocks - relationship issues Key Concepts inner dialogue cognitive check Questions to Reflect On - What does this feeling reveal about your values? - How can you act despite discomfort? A Different Perspective May lead to over‑analysis or indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Doing Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-moment-1402351/) [Feel Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-bad-243649/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly/) [Honestly Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly-ask-1584848/) [Immediately Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediately-stop-4193709/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Stop Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-doing-280957/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [When I get a text from you, I immediately stop what I'm doing just to read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-get-a-text-from-you-i-immediately-stop-what-i-m-doing-just-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The right time to stop doing something is the moment you start regretting it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardra-punathil/the-right-time-to-stop-doing-something-is-the-moment-you-start/) [Ardra Punathil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardra-punathil/) > [Look honestly at yourself. Ask yourself if you are the person you always wanted to be. If you can see how you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/look-honestly-at-yourself-ask-yourself-if-you-are-the-person-you/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [ -- x û people say that you cant have ( everythinq ) but when I'm with you , I honestly \[ \* couldnt . ask . for . more \* \]ë x -- ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/x-u-people-say-that-you-cant-have-everythinq-but-when-i-m-with-you-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Honestly, it’s the most you can ask of men sometimes. They’re so wound up, so buried beneath layers of “boys don’t cry,” and “pussy,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/honestly-it-s-the-most-you-can-ask-of-men-sometimes-they-re-so-wound/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [When we honestly ask God the 'why' question, He doesn't give us answers as much as He gives us Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/when-we-honestly-ask-god-the-why-question-he-doesn-t-give-us-answers/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [Stop whatever you're doing for a moment and ask yourself: Am I afraid of death because I won't be able to do this anymore?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/stop-whatever-you-re-doing-for-a-moment-and-ask-yourself-am-i-afraid/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Whatever I'm doing at that moment, I try to only focus on that because I'm already ADD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-jackson/whatever-i-m-doing-at-that-moment-i-try-to-only-focus-on-that-because/) [Trevor Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-jackson/) > [What often matters more than the activity we're doing at a moment in time is how we feel about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-schulte/what-often-matters-more-than-the-activity-we-re-doing-at-a-moment-in/) [Brigid Schulte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-schulte/) > [As long as you're fully present in what you're doing at the moment, you're doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-paradis/as-long-as-you-re-fully-present-in-what-you-re-doing-at-the-moment/) [Vanessa Paradis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-paradis/) > [“When we are able to focus on what we are doing in this moment, right now, we are able to let go of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carlyle/when-we-are-able-to-focus-on-what-we-are-doing-in-this-moment-right/) [David Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carlyle/) > [“We can either fill our minds and chatter to ourselves about issues and people while we are gardening, or we can simply enjoy cutting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carlyle/we-can-either-fill-our-minds-and-chatter-to-ourselves-about-issues/) [David Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carlyle/) > [Where to begin? Do we measure the relaxing of the feet? The moment when the eye glimpses the hawk, when instinct functions? For in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/where-to-begin-do-we-measure-the-relaxing-of-the-feet-the-moment-when/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [Meditation is just being delighted in your own presence... where you are not doing anything. The moment doing enters, you become tense; anxiety enters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meditation-is-just-being-delighted-in-your-own-presence-where-you-are/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [You can do only one thing at a time. I simply tackle one problem and concentrate all efforts on what I am doing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/you-can-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-simply-tackle-one-problem-and/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More by Guy Finley > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [A crisis is a close encounter of the third kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/a-crisis-is-a-close-encounter-of-the-third-kind/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Knowledge without Spirit is like finding yourself on a cold night with all the wood in the world and no flame to ignite it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/knowledge-without-spirit-is-like-finding-yourself-on-a-cold-night/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Eventually, we reach the point where we start to realize that we are not going to find peace, contentment, happiness, strength, fearlessness - all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/eventually-we-reach-the-point-where-we-start-to-realize-that-we-are/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Nothing glows brighter than the heart awakened to the unseen light of love that lives within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/nothing-glows-brighter-than-the-heart-awakened-to-the-unseen-light-of/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [We are not here on earth to change our destiny, but to fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/we-are-not-here-on-earth-to-change-our-destiny-but-to-fulfill-it/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Staying present, living in Presence is the best gift anyone can give to those they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/staying-present-living-in-presence-is-the-best-gift-anyone-can-give/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [What you don't want to know about yourself wants to be known, which is why it keeps 'showing up' at your door unannounced!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/what-you-don-t-want-to-know-about-yourself-wants-to-be-known-which-is/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Statistics vary, but in less than seven years there won't be a single cell left in any of our bodies that's the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/statistics-vary-but-in-less-than-seven-years-there-won-t-be-a-single/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Never run from what you don't understand, as it will be waiting for you every time you come to a stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/never-run-from-what-you-don-t-understand-as-it-will-be-waiting-for/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Ours is the task of discovering that our true nature has nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/ours-is-the-task-of-discovering-that-our-true-nature-has-nothing-to/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [No one rises above who he or she has been without first having fallen down. The best time - in fact, the only time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-one-rises-above-who-he-or-she-has-been-without-first-having-fallen/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [You cannot separate the onset of a disturbing moment in life from the appearance of some simultaneous new possibility to know a deeper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/you-cannot-separate-the-onset-of-a-disturbing-moment-in-life-from-the/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [What is the nature of that place where our original self is one with its longing to explore its own deepest possibilities, and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/what-is-the-nature-of-that-place-where-our-original-self-is-one-with/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [All created forms are fractal, as is their purpose, use, and allotted time for existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/all-created-forms-are-fractal-as-is-their-purpose-use-and-allotted/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) [Explore all 176 Guy Finley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) ## More Ask yourself quotes > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [When you experience difficulty at work or in your life, instead of looking back on it as something that was really challenging, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/when-you-experience-difficulty-at-work-or-in-your-life-instead-of/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“What is true for you? What makes your heart smile? When do you feel most yourself? What do you love to do? Ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/what-is-true-for-you-what-makes-your-heart-smile-when-do-you-feel/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Picture your life exactly the way you want it and then ask yourself, am I doing the things that will take me there? Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cook/picture-your-life-exactly-the-way-you-want-it-and-then-ask-yourself/) [Stephanie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cook/) > [“Just make sure you've taken a moment or two to ask yourself if it's really a need, and to reflect on the potential benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-laricchia/just-make-sure-you-ve-taken-a-moment-or-two-to-ask-yourself-if-it-s/) [Pam Laricchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-laricchia/) > [“Em's the first woman I've met who seems to be...well, the answer.' 'Answer to what?' He shrugged. 'All the questions, I suppose.' Fay looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/em-s-the-first-woman-i-ve-met-who-seems-to-be-well-the-answer-answer/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. If you find it's pessimistic or negative, ask yourself, "What's another way of thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-a-robinson/listen-to-what-you-tell-yourself-about-your-life-situation-if-you/) [Lynn A. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-a-robinson/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) [Browse all 1,272 Ask yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad about anything, immediately stop everything you are doing for a moment and, as simply and as honestly as you can, ask yourself: \"Is this what I really want?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guy Finley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-starting-to-feel-bad-about-anything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ask yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-starting-to-feel-bad-about-anything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/guy-finley-2165_ask-yourself_the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-startin_3233875.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad about anything, immediately stop everything you are…” — Guy Finley", "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": "Guy Finley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The next time you catch yourself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-starting-to-feel-bad-about-anything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-next-time-you-catch-yourself-starting-to-feel-bad-about-anything/#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 } } ] } ```