--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're the only ones who can change our…" description: "\"We're the only ones who can change our reality.\" — Kamasi Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg" --- # We're the only ones who can change our reality. ![“We're the only ones who can change our reality.” quote by Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg) > “We're the only ones who can change our reality.” [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only we possess the power to alter our own reality through choices and perception. **In simple terms:** We can change our reality. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for change. Themes empowerment mindset creativity Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - goal setting - creative projects - mindfulness practice - social activism Key Concepts personal agency philosophy of self Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to reshape your reality? - How does perception affect your experience? A Different Perspective External factors also influence outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-reality-557179/) [Ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ones/) [Ones Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ones-change-1616853/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [“We might not be the ones to change the world. We might not belong to the few that “put a ding in the universe.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nesta-jojoe-erskine/we-might-not-be-the-ones-to-change-the-world-we-might-not-belong-to/) [Nesta Jojoe Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nesta-jojoe-erskine/) > [“The ones that change...it’s not that going actually changed them its that they didn’t have something better waiting for them when they got back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-alcocer/the-ones-that-change-it-s-not-that-going-actually-changed-them-its/) [Hope Alcocer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-alcocer/) > [“The fault lies with us, and only us. It’s not fate, not genetics, not bad luck, and it’s definitely not Mom and Dad. Ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-fault-lies-with-us-and-only-us-it-s-not-fate-not-genetics-not-bad/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“I have found that the biggest moments in life, the ones that change everything, usually catch you by surprise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-have-found-that-the-biggest-moments-in-life-the-ones-that-change/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [High School made me realize that the people who say they will never change, are always the ones who change the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/high-school-made-me-realize-that-the-people-who-say-they-will-never/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The great stories are always the old ones - they never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/the-great-stories-are-always-the-old-ones-they-never-change/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [We all know those who draw their boundaries carefully and say, "I'm only human. Nobody's perfect. I accept my limitations." And we know others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/we-all-know-those-who-draw-their-boundaries-carefully-and-say-i-m/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [You really can change. Your reality is based on the way you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-really-can-change-your-reality-is-based-on-the-way-you-think/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The great ones are about winning and winning only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/the-great-ones-are-about-winning-and-winning-only/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [“If you cannot change the reality of other people, their reality will become yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-azimov/if-you-cannot-change-the-reality-of-other-people-their-reality-will/) [Sean Azimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-azimov/) > [If you can't change reality, change your perceptions of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/if-you-can-t-change-reality-change-your-perceptions-of-it/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I found that I faced a highly complex situation, and that I couldnt hope to change it until I had armed myself with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/i-found-that-i-faced-a-highly-complex-situation-and-that-i-couldnt/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [It can take a lifetime for many people to come to terms with the freedom they truly have to think for themselves. But this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck-2/it-can-take-a-lifetime-for-many-people-to-come-to-terms-with-the/) [M Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck-2/) > [My comedy is about, lift yourself. See reality. Change the reality if you don't like it. But if you can't, then deal with things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-comedy-is-about-lift-yourself-see-reality-change-the-reality-if/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [You cannot change reality, but you can control the manner in which you look at things. Your attitude is under your own control. Weed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/you-cannot-change-reality-but-you-can-control-the-manner-in-which-you/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) ## More by Kamasi Washington > [Every day we're here is an opportunity to do what we can to make the world right, to help someone close or far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/every-day-we-re-here-is-an-opportunity-to-do-what-we-can-to-make-the/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [I was hearing music in my head and trying to play it on the clarinet, but it didn't match.' Then, literally the first day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/i-was-hearing-music-in-my-head-and-trying-to-play-it-on-the-clarinet/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [So much good music has been looked over because of preconceived notions of genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/so-much-good-music-has-been-looked-over-because-of-preconceived/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [It's either, like, 'Your album was the first jazz album I listened to,' or, like, 'My friend took me to this show, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/it-s-either-like-your-album-was-the-first-jazz-album-i-listened-to-or/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [This precious thing of empathy and love and understanding is something we have to hold and appreciate and protect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/this-precious-thing-of-empathy-and-love-and-understanding-is/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [By the time I was about 15, I was out playing gigs and knew I was going to be a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/by-the-time-i-was-about-15-i-was-out-playing-gigs-and-knew-i-was/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [We learned at a young age, with our dad, that even if you weren't doing something, you had to look like you were, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/we-learned-at-a-young-age-with-our-dad-that-even-if-you-weren-t-doing/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [West Coast hip hop was the sound of my neighbourhood. It was something I could relate to because it had a sound that felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/west-coast-hip-hop-was-the-sound-of-my-neighbourhood-it-was-something/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [We've played so many places where, if you asked people, 'Do you like jazz?' they would be like, 'Not at all.' But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/we-ve-played-so-many-places-where-if-you-asked-people-do-you-like/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [In the '80s, a lot of kids, if you were kind of bright, you got bussed to schools out of your community. So you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/in-the-80s-a-lot-of-kids-if-you-were-kind-of-bright-you-got-bussed-to/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [Jazz is like a telescope, and a lot of other music is like a microscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/jazz-is-like-a-telescope-and-a-lot-of-other-music-is-like-a-microscope/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [At a certain point, when there's a barrier between you and what's right, eventually you have to decide you're not going to allow yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/at-a-certain-point-when-there-s-a-barrier-between-you-and-what-s/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [I started playing drums at three, then piano at five, then clarinet. But it wasn't till I picked up a saxophone aged 13 that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/i-started-playing-drums-at-three-then-piano-at-five-then-clarinet-but/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [You have to dig deep to make great music, and it gets harder and harder. It's a difficult, painful process to reach deep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/you-have-to-dig-deep-to-make-great-music-and-it-gets-harder-and/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [Fela Kuti blew my mind. His playing is very unorthodox, but I learned how to appreciate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/fela-kuti-blew-my-mind-his-playing-is-very-unorthodox-but-i-learned/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) [Explore all 104 Kamasi Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're the only ones who can change our reality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kamasi Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-reality/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-reality/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/kamasi-washington-4976_change_we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-r_950981.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're the only ones who can change our reality.” — Kamasi Washington", "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": "Kamasi Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're the only ones who can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-reality/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/we-re-the-only-ones-who-can-change-our-reality/#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 } } ] } ```