---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you find yourself plagued by a…"
description: "\"If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Your conscious mind can concentrate on only one thought a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png"
---

#  If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train…

![“If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Your conscious mind can concentrate on only one thought at a time, and driving the negativity away will free you up to move forward again.” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png)

> “If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Your conscious mind can concentrate on only one thought at a time, and driving the negativity away will free you up to move forward again.”

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Redirecting focus from persistent worries to a single constructive thought reduces mental overload and restores forward momentum.

**In simple terms:** Shift focus to one positive thought to move ahead.

Key Takeaway

Replace worry with purposeful focus.

Themes

focus mental health productivity

Mood

calm determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- stressful workday
- personal anxiety
- creative block
- decision making

Key Concepts

cognitive control mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- What single thought can you adopt now?
- How does focus affect your stress level?

A Different Perspective

Changing thoughts may not eliminate the underlying issue.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conscious mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-mind/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Finding yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-yourself/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [Negativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativity/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

## Related quotes

> [I always thought, I can't waste time, I have to do work. I also thought that I was slower than other people, that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-always-thought-i-can-t-waste-time-i-have-to-do-work-i-also-thought/)

[Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/)

> [Fear of failure and criticism can be crippling. Don't let others' negativity take away your joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hammond/fear-of-failure-and-criticism-can-be-crippling-don-t-let-others/)

[Lee Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hammond/)

> [Creative power has to filter through our beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and habits. The more negative and constricted our beliefs and patterns are, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/creative-power-has-to-filter-through-our-beliefs-attitudes-emotions/)

[Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/)

> [Space really means the level of awareness or presence, not thinking. So, can you look at your partner and not think? Two conscious beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/space-really-means-the-level-of-awareness-or-presence-not-thinking-so/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [I've just become more conscious about how much I do drink and how often I want to have a drink and things like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payne-stewart/i-ve-just-become-more-conscious-about-how-much-i-do-drink-and-how/)

[Payne Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payne-stewart/)

> [People always want to feel better and be inspired. Sometimes we need it. I think the conscious rapper will always be able to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/people-always-want-to-feel-better-and-be-inspired-sometimes-we-need/)

[Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/)

> [I think that being a conscious parent opens your eyes to the fact that any adult relationships that you have, whenever children are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/i-think-that-being-a-conscious-parent-opens-your-eyes-to-the-fact/)

[Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/)

> [I think we do have to be conscious that sometimes there are different issues with women offenders than there are with men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-think-we-do-have-to-be-conscious-that-sometimes-there-are-different/)

[David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/)

> [I know what it's like to have not and I know what it's like to have. I think I'm conscious of what I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-have-not-and-i-know-what-it-s-like-to-have-i/)

[Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/)

> [One of the things I think you're always conscious of is we're in the winning business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-trotz/one-of-the-things-i-think-you-re-always-conscious-of-is-we-re-in-the/)

[Barry Trotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-trotz/)

> [I think I have been very conscious throughout my career. I can't go back and remember every line of every ad I have done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/i-think-i-have-been-very-conscious-throughout-my-career-i-can-t-go/)

[Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/)

> [“We think we are in conscious control and are making our own decisions when, in actuality, we aren’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-taylor/we-think-we-are-in-conscious-control-and-are-making-our-own-decisions/)

[Sara Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-taylor/)

> [Discouragement is a negative emotion with more than one trick up its dark sleeve. It tricks you into mentally or emotionally dwelling in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/discouragement-is-a-negative-emotion-with-more-than-one-trick-up-its/)

[Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/)

> [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/)

[Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

## More by Harvey Mackay

> [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/life-is-too-short-to-wake-up-with-regrets-so-love-the-people-who/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/keep-the-customer-actively-involved-throughout-your-presentation-and/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Your workforce is your most valuable asset. The knowledge and skills they have represent the fuel that drives the engine of business - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/your-workforce-is-your-most-valuable-asset-the-knowledge-and-skills/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-ve-learned-that-people-will-seldom-let-you-down-if-they-understand/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/people-begin-to-become-successful-the-minute-they-decide-to-be/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Southwest Airlines is successful because the company understands it's a customer service company. It also happens to be an airline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/southwest-airlines-is-successful-because-the-company-understands-it-s/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/pay-attention-to-those-employees-who-respectfully-ask-why-they-are/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [The employees who share innovative ideas may also be the folks who have some hidden talents that would help incorporate their suggestions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/the-employees-who-share-innovative-ideas-may-also-be-the-folks-who/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [Leadership does not mean getting people to do their job. It means getting people to do their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/leadership-does-not-mean-getting-people-to-do-their-job-it-means/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [It's only lonely at the top if you forget all the people you met along the way and fail to acknowledge their contributions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-s-only-lonely-at-the-top-if-you-forget-all-the-people-you-met/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [If you walk backwards, you will never stub your toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-walk-backwards-you-will-never-stub-your-toe/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [As you schedule individual tasks, give yourself a cushion. Mark the due date a few days ahead of the actual deadline so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/as-you-schedule-individual-tasks-give-yourself-a-cushion-mark-the-due/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

[Explore all 209 Harvey Mackay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

## More Conscious quotes

> [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/)

[John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/)

> [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/)

[Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/)

[Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/)

[D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/)

> [Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/repugnant-is-a-creature-who-would-squander-the-ability-to-lift-an-eye/)

[Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/)

> [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/)

[David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/)

> [I know one thing: that you can do a lot of things but if you don't educate people into conscious anarchism it gets frittered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-know-one-thing-that-you-can-do-a-lot-of-things-but-if-you-don-t/)

[Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/)

> [All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-nkosi/all-black-people-who-are-even-minimally-conscious-black-people-who/)

[Lewis Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-nkosi/)

> [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [I don't think my paintings are self-conscious but you feel the consciousness of them. Without them being self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-don-t-think-my-paintings-are-self-conscious-but-you-feel-the/)

[Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/)

Browse all 3,716 Conscious quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Your conscious mind can concentrate on only one thought at a time, and driving the negativity away will free you up to move forward again.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harvey Mackay"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurrent-worry-train-yourself-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conscious"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurrent-worry-train-yourself-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/harvey-mackay-1775_conscious_if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurr_1941588.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Your conscious…” — Harvey Mackay",
                "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": "Harvey Mackay",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you find yourself plagued by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurrent-worry-train-yourself-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-find-yourself-plagued-by-a-recurrent-worry-train-yourself-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
