--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would step into a place of being lined…" description: "\"I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense of purpose and my inner compass, and everything was going in the same direction. Then I'd get ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/kathy-mattea-17222_compass_i-would-step-into-a-place-of-being-lined_122617.jpg" --- # I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense… ![“I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense of purpose and my inner compass, and everything was going in the same direction. Then I'd get lazy and get off the track. And then things would start to fall apart, and I'd back up and get it together again.” quote by Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/kathy-mattea-17222_compass_i-would-step-into-a-place-of-being-lined_122617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/kathy-mattea-17222_compass_i-would-step-into-a-place-of-being-lined_122617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/kathy-mattea-17222_compass_i-would-step-into-a-place-of-being-lined_122617.jpg) > “I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense of purpose and my inner compass, and everything was going in the same direction. Then I'd get lazy and get off the track. And then things would start to fall apart, and I'd back up and get it together again.” [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a cycle of purposeful momentum, followed by complacency that derails progress, then a conscious effort to regain direction. **In simple terms:** Stay focused or risk losing momentum. Key Takeaway Discipline sustains direction. Themes motivation focus self‑discipline resilience Mood determined cautious Type motivational When to use this quote - Project management meetings - Personal fitness routines Key Concepts habit formation Practical Applications - Set regular check‑ins to catch drift early Questions to Reflect On - What signals indicate you’re drifting off track? - How can you rebuild momentum without burnout? A Different Perspective Occasional breaks can be restorative, not merely lazy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Get it together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-it-together/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [Your gut is your inner compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-gut-is-your-inner-compass/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your gut is your inner compass. Whenever you have to consult with other people for an answer, you're headed in the wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-gut-is-your-inner-compass-whenever-you-have-to-consult-with/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Since learning the truth, his inner compass had spun off course, swinging wildly, like a needle around a magnet or one of those volley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-easton/since-learning-the-truth-his-inner-compass-had-spun-off-course/) [Eli Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-easton/) > [A holiday gives one a chance to look backward and forward; to reset oneself by an inner compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/a-holiday-gives-one-a-chance-to-look-backward-and-forward-to-reset/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Every time you consider a job, you have to check in with your inner compass and say, ‘Does this fit in with how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/every-time-you-consider-a-job-you-have-to-check-in-with-your-inner/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“Never row upstream and fight the currents of life, or passively wait for the tides to change. To get to your destination, calibrate your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/never-row-upstream-and-fight-the-currents-of-life-or-passively-wait/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [“The arguments today will be a memory tomorrow, but our work will stand the test of time when we trust ourselves enough to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/the-arguments-today-will-be-a-memory-tomorrow-but-our-work-will-stand/) [Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/) > [“Passion gives you direction. It serves as an inner compass that links you to action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/passion-gives-you-direction-it-serves-as-an-inner-compass-that-links/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Always lost, always striking out in the wrong direction, always going around in circles. You have suffered from a life-long inability to orient yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/always-lost-always-striking-out-in-the-wrong-direction-always-going/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I think it's so important as an actor that you hang on to your own inner compass, because so many people want to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-think-it-s-so-important-as-an-actor-that-you-hang-on-to-your-own/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I'm not into the culture of complaint. I roll up my sleeves and somehow I get it together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-m-not-into-the-culture-of-complaint-i-roll-up-my-sleeves-and/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I only wear heels when it's 100-percent required, and even sometimes not then. I have to talk myself into a bra. I've done an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-only-wear-heels-when-it-s-100-percent-required-and-even-sometimes/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [I think 26 is the turning point. I’ve got to make up for 10 years of living like a degenerate. I’ve suddenly become conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-think-26-is-the-turning-point-i-ve-got-to-make-up-for-10-years-of/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [I would stay in my room for days, for days at times, just trying to get it together, to know what my next phase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-houston/i-would-stay-in-my-room-for-days-for-days-at-times-just-trying-to-get/) [Whitney Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-houston/) > [Getting organized in the normal routines of life and finishing little projects you've started is an important first step toward realizing larger goals. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/getting-organized-in-the-normal-routines-of-life-and-finishing-little/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Kathy Mattea > [I've come to understand my role. On some level, I provide the context for them to shine. I also know my role is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/i-ve-come-to-understand-my-role-on-some-level-i-provide-the-context/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Sally Barris has a voice like sparkling crystal. You could have knocked me over with a feather the first time I heard her. Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/sally-barris-has-a-voice-like-sparkling-crystal-you-could-have/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [If you say that you're all about a certain something, and look back and see that the choices that you've made don't reflect that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/if-you-say-that-you-re-all-about-a-certain-something-and-look-back/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [So I really did stop and change what I saw I was about, and really try to put that principle into play as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/so-i-really-did-stop-and-change-what-i-saw-i-was-about-and-really-try/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Anyway, our family went into complete crisis mode. I have two older brothers, and we rallied as a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/anyway-our-family-went-into-complete-crisis-mode-i-have-two-older/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Chocolate's okay, but I prefer a really intense fruit taste. You know when a peach is absolutely perfect... it's sublime. I'd like to capture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/chocolate-s-okay-but-i-prefer-a-really-intense-fruit-taste-you-know/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [We rob ourselves of so much by focusing on the wrong stuff. And the ability to get into the moment and deal with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/we-rob-ourselves-of-so-much-by-focusing-on-the-wrong-stuff-and-the/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [And in fact, I think the more we start to worship perfection the more soul leaks out of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/and-in-fact-i-think-the-more-we-start-to-worship-perfection-the-more/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Or if I have my head in the results, I can't work with what I have, because I'm trying to force something to happen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/or-if-i-have-my-head-in-the-results-i-can-t-work-with-what-i-have/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [There is a string attached to Maia Sharp's voice. And when she sings, you find that the other end is attached to your gut.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/there-is-a-string-attached-to-maia-sharp-s-voice-and-when-she-sings/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [So all of these things are going on that make you wake up and realize you are a mortal person. You can choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/so-all-of-these-things-are-going-on-that-make-you-wake-up-and-realize/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Can you blame them? We have to filter so much information these days. But it does make it difficult for an artist. I'm 46…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/can-you-blame-them-we-have-to-filter-so-much-information-these-days/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [So I had to just kind of go back to the hotel, take a shower, sit quiet, dig down deep, warm up, and allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/so-i-had-to-just-kind-of-go-back-to-the-hotel-take-a-shower-sit-quiet/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Tonight I feel like all of creation is asking us to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/tonight-i-feel-like-all-of-creation-is-asking-us-to-dance/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Dance like nobody's watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/dance-like-nobody-s-watching/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) [Explore all 37 Kathy Mattea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) ## More Compass quotes > [It signified nothing that the raw, male magnetism that emanated from him probably made compasses malfunction in his presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/it-signified-nothing-that-the-raw-male-magnetism-that-emanated-from/) [Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/families-are-the-compass-that-guide-us-they-are-the-inspiration-to/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [In a compass, we got north, south, east and west, right? But in between that, you got things like north-east - now that, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-the-chicago-kid/in-a-compass-we-got-north-south-east-and-west-right-but-in-between/) [BJ the Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-the-chicago-kid/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [put the car in "d" set the compass to "n" and get the "f"out of there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/put-the-car-in-d-set-the-compass-to-n-and-get-the-f-out-of-there/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [Anger is an emotion, not a compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/anger-is-an-emotion-not-a-compass/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [“Why a compass?” Ty asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Zane’s yet. Zane smiled and ran his thumb across the pendant. “Because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/why-a-compass-ty-asked-he-hadn-t-taken-his-eyes-off-zane-s-yet-zane/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [I have an excellent internal compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/i-have-an-excellent-internal-compass/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It is cruel for you to leave your daughter, so full of hopeand resolve, to suffer the humiliations of disfranchisement she already feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-is-cruel-for-you-to-leave-your-daughter-so-full-of-hopeand-resolve/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) [Browse all 569 Compass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense of purpose and my inner compass, and everything was going in the same direction. Then I'd get lazy and get off the track. 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