--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't look where I'm going, I look…" description: "\"I don't look where I'm going, I look where I've been.\" — Helen Van Wyk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg" --- # I don't look where I'm going, I look where I've been. ![“I don't look where I'm going, I look where I've been.” quote by Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg) > “I don't look where I'm going, I look where I've been.” [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Looking back informs present decisions; past experiences guide future direction. **In simple terms:** Past guides present. Key Takeaway Learn from history to navigate today. Themes reflection learning experience direction Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts history self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What lessons from your past shape your current path? - How can you balance past lessons with new ideas? A Different Perspective Risk of overreliance on past limiting innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't look to where you've come from. Look to where you're going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-kent/don-t-look-to-where-you-ve-come-from-look-to-where-you-re-going/) [Alison Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-kent/) > [“Because people are always going to look. They’re always going to judge, so you can say nothing or you can at least answer back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/because-people-are-always-going-to-look-they-re-always-going-to-judge/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Look, I've got a great dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/look-i-ve-got-a-great-dad/) [Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/) > [Look what you;ve done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/look-what-you-ve-done-2/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [What have we done to the world?… Look what we've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/what-have-we-done-to-the-world-look-what-we-ve-done/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Look, I've lost before. And there's always a tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/look-i-ve-lost-before-and-there-s-always-a-tomorrow/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [If I want to find out who I am..I'll look at who I've been..and who I want to be……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-want-to-find-out-who-i-am-i-ll-look-at-who-i-ve-been-and-who-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Look, I've got more personalities than I can use already. All you are is one too many.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/look-i-ve-got-more-personalities-than-i-can-use-already-all-you-are/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Don't look back to where you've been, just keep your eyes on where you're going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/don-t-look-back-to-where-you-ve-been-just-keep-your-eyes-on-where-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Look what you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/look-what-you-ve-done/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Do you know what it's like to look at yourself and see what you've bcome what you've created?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-you-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-at-yourself-and-see-what-you-ve/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [It's not how you look, it's not what you've done, it's not what they say, but it's what you're inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serdyuk-oksana/it-s-not-how-you-look-it-s-not-what-you-ve-done-it-s-not-what-they/) [Serdyuk Oksana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serdyuk-oksana/) > [He gave me a look at myself I've never had before. He saw something in me nobody else ever did. He made me see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-garland/he-gave-me-a-look-at-myself-i-ve-never-had-before-he-saw-something-in/) [Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-garland/) > [When I look at where I’ve been, I see that what I am becoming is a whole lot further down the road from where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaither/when-i-look-at-where-i-ve-been-i-see-that-what-i-am-becoming-is-a/) [Gloria Gaither](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaither/) > [Oh look at that, I've been shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-look-at-that-i-ve-been-shot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Helen Van Wyk > [You can't get it right, until you make it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/you-can-t-get-it-right-until-you-make-it-wrong/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [I switched to painting with my left hand to be in better company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/i-switched-to-painting-with-my-left-hand-to-be-in-better-company/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [You're afraid because you're thinking about the end, not about what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/you-re-afraid-because-you-re-thinking-about-the-end-not-about-what/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [A painting is a collection of a series of corrections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/a-painting-is-a-collection-of-a-series-of-corrections/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [It is in the contrast of light and dark that design happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/it-is-in-the-contrast-of-light-and-dark-that-design-happens/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [The first thing you see is the last thing you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/the-first-thing-you-see-is-the-last-thing-you-do/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [If it's all wrong, it's all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/if-it-s-all-wrong-it-s-all-right/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [See it in terms of paint. We don't learn subject matter, we learn paint. The musician can play any score that is set before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/see-it-in-terms-of-paint-we-don-t-learn-subject-matter-we-learn-paint/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [It's not what you paint. It's how you paint it. You don't have to paint elaborate things. Paint simple things as beautifully as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/it-s-not-what-you-paint-it-s-how-you-paint-it-you-don-t-have-to-paint/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [Gray is the queen of colors, because she makes everyone else look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/gray-is-the-queen-of-colors-because-she-makes-everyone-else-look-good/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) [Explore all 11 Helen Van Wyk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) ## More Direction quotes > [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [Every time you think a negative thought, it's one step in the wrong direction, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/every-time-you-think-a-negative-thought-it-s-one-step-in-the-wrong/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [“No matter how many times you get turned around,you will still find yourself going in the right direction \*B\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-easley/no-matter-how-many-times-you-get-turned-around-you-will-still-find/) [B. Easley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-easley/) > [Life's lessons don't come with books, notes nor instructions...just mistakes and EVERYONE makes them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-s-lessons-don-t-come-with-books-notes-nor-instructions-just/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-don-t-think-comedy-really-does-change-people-s-minds-i-think-you/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [Napster has pointed the way for a new direction for music distribution, and we believe it will form the basis of important and exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/napster-has-pointed-the-way-for-a-new-direction-for-music/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [Vote SNP for a party that always stands up for Scotland, that is stronger for Scotland, and a government that will keep the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/vote-snp-for-a-party-that-always-stands-up-for-scotland-that-is/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [I have a horrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-have-a-horrible-sense-of-direction/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [When I see Mario Gotze, his development does not go in the right direction. He has outstanding qualities, but he has not reached his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/when-i-see-mario-gotze-his-development-does-not-go-in-the-right/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [Even in 'Hollyoaks,' we were known as 'the black family' as opposed to just 'the new family.' But that's where we are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/even-in-hollyoaks-we-were-known-as-the-black-family-as-opposed-to/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [I love being a private company. I don't ever want to be forced to not do the things I need to do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/i-love-being-a-private-company-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-forced-to-not/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [Nobody had anticipated that chemicals was the direction in which Reliance was headed. I did chemical engineering because it was supposed to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/nobody-had-anticipated-that-chemicals-was-the-direction-in-which/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) [Browse all 2,024 Direction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't look where I'm going, I look where I've been.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Van Wyk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-where-i-ve-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Direction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-where-i-ve-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/helen-van-wyk-39655_looks_i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-wher_1647538.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't look where I'm going, I look where I've been.” — Helen Van Wyk", "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": "Helen Van Wyk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't look where I'm going,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-where-i-ve-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/i-don-t-look-where-i-m-going-i-look-where-i-ve-been/#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 } } ] } ```