--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't always control what happens to…" description: "\"We can't always control what happens to us but we CAN control how we react to it\" — Julie Hernandez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg" --- # We can't always control what happens to us but we CAN… ![“We can't always control what happens to us but we CAN control how we react to it” quote by Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg) > “We can't always control what happens to us but we CAN control how we react to it” [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External events are beyond control, but personal response is a choice that shapes outcomes. **In simple terms:** You can’t control everything, but you can control your reaction. Key Takeaway Choose constructive responses to challenges. Themes resilience control mindset growth Mood empowering steady Type advice reflective When to use this quote - stressful workday - family conflict - unexpected setbacks - health issues Key Concepts Cognitive reframing emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide your reaction in a crisis? - What habits help maintain calm? A Different Perspective Reactions may be limited by circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [Positive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-thinking/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Sobriety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sobriety/) ## Related quotes > [I can't control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-can-t-control-what-happens-to-me-but-i-can-control-how-i-respond-to/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control the way you think about all the events. You always have a choice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/you-cannot-control-what-happens-to-you-but-you-can-control-the-way/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“Much of the time, we cannot control what happens to us. But we can always control how we respond to what happens to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/much-of-the-time-we-cannot-control-what-happens-to-us-but-we-can/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [“We don’t always control what happens to us. But we always control how we interpret what happens to us, as well as how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/we-don-t-always-control-what-happens-to-us-but-we-always-control-how/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [We can't always control what happens but we can control our response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-harding/we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-but-we-can-control-our-response/) [Phil Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-harding/) > [“You may not be able to control what happens to you but you can control what happens within you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-augustine/you-may-not-be-able-to-control-what-happens-to-you-but-you-can/) [Sue Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-augustine/) > [While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/while-we-may-not-be-able-to-control-all-that-happens-to-us-we-can/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I am saying goodbye to the nights I can't remember and embracing the days that h are changing my life for the better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/i-am-saying-goodbye-to-the-nights-i-can-t-remember-and-embracing-the/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [I can't control what life did to me, but I can control how I react. Therein lies the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-can-t-control-what-life-did-to-me-but-i-can-control-how-i-react/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“we can’t control what other people do. We can only control how we react.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-t-control-what-other-people-do-we-can-only-control-how-we-react/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I can control is how I react. I can't control anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/what-i-can-control-is-how-i-react-i-can-t-control-anything-else/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You can't control how some people will treat you or what they'll say about you. But you can control how you react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/you-can-t-control-how-some-people-will-treat-you-or-what-they-ll-say/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I don't control life, but I control how I react to it.(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-control-life-but-i-control-how-i-react-to-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't control life, but I can control how i react to it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-don-t-control-life-but-i-can-control-how-i-react-to-it/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) ## More by Julie Hernandez > [The life you live is more important than the words you speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/the-life-you-live-is-more-important-than-the-words-you-speak/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [If you have to lie about it, delete it, hide it or fake it...you may wanna wanna ask yourself is this worth it? We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/if-you-have-to-lie-about-it-delete-it-hide-it-or-fake-it-you-may/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [If the words aren't adding up its probably because the truth isn't in the equation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/if-the-words-aren-t-adding-up-its-probably-because-the-truth-isn-t-in/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [Confidence is beautiful, classy and sexy. It's what makes or breaks us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/confidence-is-beautiful-classy-and-sexy-it-s-what-makes-or-breaks-us/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [To get to where you're going, you must first know where you are at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/to-get-to-where-you-re-going-you-must-first-know-where-you-are-at/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [My soul mate lies in my bed at night,the loyalty and respect is so perfect that my head and heart have no reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/my-soul-mate-lies-in-my-bed-at-night-the-loyalty-and-respect-is-so/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [Those who stir the shit pot should have to lick the spoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/those-who-stir-the-shit-pot-should-have-to-lick-the-spoon/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [I have mood poisoning, must have been something I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/i-have-mood-poisoning-must-have-been-something-i-hate/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [Today make it your only mission to be: Super Cali Swagilistic Sexy Hella Dopeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/today-make-it-your-only-mission-to-be-super-cali-swagilistic-sexy/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [You can't start over and expect to use the same faulty tools you did yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/you-can-t-start-over-and-expect-to-use-the-same-faulty-tools-you-did/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [Everyday is a constant battle dealing with past mistakes. Today I will remind myself that a wound cannot heal until you stop touching it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/everyday-is-a-constant-battle-dealing-with-past-mistakes-today-i-will/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [Leave your past where it's at - convert your mind to His presence. Appreciate your sufferings because in your future It brings reverence.And let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/leave-your-past-where-it-s-at-convert-your-mind-to-his-presence/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [Be discriminating when choosing those you accept into your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/be-discriminating-when-choosing-those-you-accept-into-your-life/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [If you can't let go of the past, I'm sure there is someone still back there hoping that you couldn't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/if-you-can-t-let-go-of-the-past-i-m-sure-there-is-someone-still-back/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) > [The smallest truth can make a dozen lies disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/the-smallest-truth-can-make-a-dozen-lies-disappear/) [Julie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) [Explore all 30 Julie Hernandez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can't always control what happens to us but we CAN control how we react to it", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julie Hernandez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to-us-but-we-can-control-how-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to-us-but-we-can-control-how-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/julie-hernandez-20349_control_we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to_824588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can't always control what happens to us but we CAN control how we react to it” — Julie Hernandez", "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": "Julie Hernandez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hernandez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We can't always control what happens...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to-us-but-we-can-control-how-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hernandez/we-can-t-always-control-what-happens-to-us-but-we-can-control-how-we/#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 } } ] } ```