--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your brain has one function-to do exactly…" description: "\"Your brain has one function-to do exactly what you tell it to do.\" — Jean Houston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png" --- # Your brain has one function-to do exactly what you tell it… ![“Your brain has one function-to do exactly what you tell it to do.” quote by Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png) > “Your brain has one function-to do exactly what you tell it to do.” [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The brain executes exactly what it is instructed to do, highlighting the importance of clear intentions. **In simple terms:** Clear intent drives action. Key Takeaway Set precise goals. Themes intent mindset neuroscience Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - goal setting - habit formation - skill learning - therapy sessions Key Concepts Cognitive psychology self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What intentions are you giving your mind? - How can you clarify them? A Different Perspective Unclear intentions lead to unintended outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-function/) [Exactly Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exactly-tell-2120337/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Function Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-exactly-2464869/) ## Related quotes > [When you understand how the mind-brain functions together, you know that faith, which is believing before seeing, is the natural process of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/when-you-understand-how-the-mind-brain-functions-together-you-know/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [“I can't tell you exactly, any more than I could tell you exactly what is the experience of sex if you have never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-can-t-tell-you-exactly-any-more-than-i-could-tell-you-exactly-what/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [Find the one thing or one person, no matter what shape or what exactly it is tell that one person or thing everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/find-the-one-thing-or-one-person-no-matter-what-shape-or-what-exactly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Heaven is exactly where you are, hell is exactly where you are, now tell me exactly where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/heaven-is-exactly-where-you-are-hell-is-exactly-where-you-are-now/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [In a structure as complex as the human brain a multitude of things can go wrong. The wonder is that for most people the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-s-kety/in-a-structure-as-complex-as-the-human-brain-a-multitude-of-things/) [Seymour S. Kety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-s-kety/) > [As human, we all have the same human potential, unless there is some sort of retarded brain function. The wonderful human brain is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/as-human-we-all-have-the-same-human-potential-unless-there-is-some/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Mind is just a word we use to describe neural activity in the brain. No brain, no mind. We know this because if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/mind-is-just-a-word-we-use-to-describe-neural-activity-in-the-brain/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Savant syndrome and autism, I think, are not disorders of brain structure, but they're disorders of brain function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/savant-syndrome-and-autism-i-think-are-not-disorders-of-brain/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [Odd that the brain could function on its own, without acquainting him with its purposes, its reasons. But the brain was an organ, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/odd-that-the-brain-could-function-on-its-own-without-acquainting-him/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“The brain is the kind of beast you can't stop. Even after the soul leaves the body, what we call death, the brain can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/the-brain-is-the-kind-of-beast-you-can-t-stop-even-after-the-soul/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Healthful whole foods improve our brain function as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilu-henner/healthful-whole-foods-improve-our-brain-function-as-well/) [Marilu Henner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilu-henner/) > [I was never very good at math and science, to be honest, so it's fun to play a character that is so scientific and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-alexander/i-was-never-very-good-at-math-and-science-to-be-honest-so-it-s-fun-to/) [Sasha Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-alexander/) > [If managers knew how deeply their behaviors could affect brain function - whether they are piling up too much work on someone or yelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/if-managers-knew-how-deeply-their-behaviors-could-affect-brain/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [Abnormalities in brain function have traditionally been detected using electroencephalography (EEG), which involves the measurement of the ongoing electrical activity generated by the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditi-shankardass/abnormalities-in-brain-function-have-traditionally-been-detected/) [Aditi Shankardass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditi-shankardass/) > [A knowledge of brain science will provide one of the major foundations of the new age to come. That knowledge will spawn cures for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-edelman/a-knowledge-of-brain-science-will-provide-one-of-the-major/) [Gerald Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-edelman/) ## More by Jean Houston > [You've had a whole lot of experience, but everything is also radically new at each moment, and you have to bring a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/you-ve-had-a-whole-lot-of-experience-but-everything-is-also-radically/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [As you allow the beloved to grow within you, you will discover a steadfastness to the spiritual journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/as-you-allow-the-beloved-to-grow-within-you-you-will-discover-a/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [If you travel as much as I do - 165,000 miles last year - you exist nowhere. You're always between heaven and earth, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/if-you-travel-as-much-as-i-do-165-000-miles-last-year-you-exist/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [Change the story and you change perception; change perception and you change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/change-the-story-and-you-change-perception-change-perception-and-you/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [Time has driven out sex and money as the central issues. Now if it could only drive out the issue of power we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/time-has-driven-out-sex-and-money-as-the-central-issues-now-if-it/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [We needed a "psychenaut" program to be the opposite of the astronaut program in order to explore the enormous domains and dimensions of inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/we-needed-a-psychenaut-program-to-be-the-opposite-of-the-astronaut/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [When we are calling forth the depth and genius of the other, then we grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/when-we-are-calling-forth-the-depth-and-genius-of-the-other-then-we/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [Certainly one is brought to the brink of one's sense of who one is, what one has to do, why me, why now, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/certainly-one-is-brought-to-the-brink-of-one-s-sense-of-who-one-is/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [I often wonder if you wrote your memoir today, if your life story would be lived on the edge of possibility, if you held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/i-often-wonder-if-you-wrote-your-memoir-today-if-your-life-story/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [The ecological crisis is doing what no other crisis in history has ever done - challenging us to a realization of a new humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/the-ecological-crisis-is-doing-what-no-other-crisis-in-history-has/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [“G.U.R.U - Gee, you are you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/g-u-r-u-gee-you-are-you/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [What I often do in my work is to take a great story, such as the Odyssey, the search for the Grail, the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/what-i-often-do-in-my-work-is-to-take-a-great-story-such-as-the/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [Each person is a really a great treasure house of capacities, possibilities, energies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/each-person-is-a-really-a-great-treasure-house-of-capacities/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [The more you love, the more loving you become. That's just the way it works. It is a generosity of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/the-more-you-love-the-more-loving-you-become-that-s-just-the-way-it/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [Vulnerable is a catch-all word like "love" and "schizophrenia."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/vulnerable-is-a-catch-all-word-like-love-and-schizophrenia/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) [Explore all 91 Jean Houston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your brain has one function-to do exactly what you tell it to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Houston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactly-what-you-tell-it-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactly-what-you-tell-it-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/jean-houston-7414_brain_your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactl_2666049.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your brain has one function-to do exactly what you tell it to do.” — Jean Houston", "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": "Jean Houston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your brain has one function-to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactly-what-you-tell-it-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/your-brain-has-one-function-to-do-exactly-what-you-tell-it-to-do/#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 } } ] } ```