--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In your life's defining moments there are…" description: "\"In your life's defining moments there are two choices - you either step forward in faith and power or you step backward into fear.\" — James Arthur Ray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg" --- # In your life's defining moments there are two choices… ![“In your life's defining moments there are two choices - you either step forward in faith and power or you step backward into fear.” quote by James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg) > “In your life's defining moments there are two choices - you either step forward in faith and power or you step backward into fear.” [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In pivotal moments we choose between courageous action and retreat into fear. **In simple terms:** Key moments demand a choice: act or retreat. Key Takeaway Choose courage over fear. Themes choice courage fear defining moments personal power Mood determined serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career crossroads - health challenges - relationship decisions - creative projects Key Concepts psychology decision making resilience Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back now? - How can you turn fear into motivation? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze even the willing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Defining moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-moment/) [Defining moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-moments/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Steps forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps-forward/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Two choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-choices/) ## Related quotes > [“There are no defining moments. There are only your moments to define.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-dowd/there-are-no-defining-moments-there-are-only-your-moments-to-define/) Thomas B Dowd > [“my career in public life, I have had the rare privilege of being a participant in many of the defining moments of our country’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranab-mukherjee/my-career-in-public-life-i-have-had-the-rare-privilege-of-being-a/) [Pranab Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranab-mukherjee/) > [I did it through our ministries. We had ordination and basically understanding there ought - to be ordained that God has set apart, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-did-it-through-our-ministries-we-had-ordination-and-basically/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“I think that perhaps there are no such defining moments at all. Beginnings and ends are fluid, long chains of events where some links…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/i-think-that-perhaps-there-are-no-such-defining-moments-at-all/) [Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/) > [There was a race that I was running in Mexico City and I was the only high school athlete running against grown women. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/there-was-a-race-that-i-was-running-in-mexico-city-and-i-was-the-only/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) > [The men I idolized built their bodies and became somebody - like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger - and I thought, 'That can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-men-i-idolized-built-their-bodies-and-became-somebody-like/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I think that for many of us, the years of the Civil Rights movements - Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy running for president in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-that-for-many-of-us-the-years-of-the-civil-rights-movements/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Abraham is trying to obey God, but not to kill. I feel that moment is one of the defining moments of Jewish faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/abraham-is-trying-to-obey-god-but-not-to-kill-i-feel-that-moment-is/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Our lives will be full of defining moments, but those moments don't have to define us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-lives-will-be-full-of-defining-moments-but-those-moments-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our lives a series of defining moments, strung together by passing time. Surrender fully to this moment, because it is not the moment...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-lives-a-series-of-defining-moments-strung-together-by-passing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are defining moments, while the pain maybe great, the joy maybe greater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-are-defining-moments-while-the-pain-maybe-great-the-joy-maybe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Grads need to remember that it's \[showcases\] just a jumping off point for their career, not the defining moment. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hoffman/grads-need-to-remember-that-it-s-showcases-just-a-jumping-off-point/) [Rachel Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hoffman/) > [Hold'em - like life itself - has its defining moment. It's the flop. When you see the flop, you're looking at 71 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-krieger/hold-em-like-life-itself-has-its-defining-moment-it-s-the-flop-when/) Lou Krieger > [I think this is really a defining moment for the Arab world. The problem is, it is all going to be about blood, sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-this-is-really-a-defining-moment-for-the-arab-world-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are defining moments in your life where the road ahead of you takes questionable turns but if GOD is your GPS you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-defining-moments-in-your-life-where-the-road-ahead-of-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Arthur Ray > [It’s easier to have courage and trust the process when you feel you’re making headway. Mastery is not persistence when you see a light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/it-s-easier-to-have-courage-and-trust-the-process-when-you-feel-you/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [The test of character is not persistence when you expect a light at the end of the tunnel. The true test is performance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/the-test-of-character-is-not-persistence-when-you-expect-a-light-at/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [You'll never be fully engaged in where you are or where you're going by settling for normal. 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That means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/every-great-tradition-has-told-you-that-you-were-created-in-the-image/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [This principle applies to your family pet, for instance, which I believe are wonderful because they put you into a great emotional state. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/this-principle-applies-to-your-family-pet-for-instance-which-i/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [Trying is failing with honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/trying-is-failing-with-honor/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [True wealth is not what you have, it's what you're left with with when all you have is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/true-wealth-is-not-what-you-have-it-s-what-you-re-left-with-with-when/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [I contend that the time has come to develop what I call "integrated spiritual masters." These are individuals that have a full-on experience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/i-contend-that-the-time-has-come-to-develop-what-i-call-integrated/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [The seed you sow today will not produce crop till tomorrow. For this reason, your identity does not lie in your current results. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/the-seed-you-sow-today-will-not-produce-crop-till-tomorrow-for-this/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [The Warrior lives a life full of adventure, living on the edge of opportunity. Life on the edge keeps him in a space of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/the-warrior-lives-a-life-full-of-adventure-living-on-the-edge-of/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) [Explore all 41 James Arthur Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [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/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [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/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In your life's defining moments there are two choices - you either step forward in faith and power or you step backward into fear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Arthur Ray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-are-two-choices-you-either-step/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-are-two-choices-you-either-step/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/james-arthur-ray-15830_choices_in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-ar_1354237.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In your life's defining moments there are two choices - you either step forward in faith and power or you…” — James Arthur Ray", "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": "James Arthur Ray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In your life's defining moments there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-are-two-choices-you-either-step/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/in-your-life-s-defining-moments-there-are-two-choices-you-either-step/#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 } } ] } ```