Abandoned Quote by Kay Redfield Jamison
““I long ago abandoned the notion of a life without storms, or a world without dry and killing seasons. Life is too complicated, too constantly changing, to be anything but what it is. And I am, by nature, too mercurial to be anything but deeply wary of the grave unnaturalness involved in any attempt to exert too much control over essentially uncontrollable forces. There will be propelling, disturbing elements, and they will be there until, as Lowell put it, the watch is taken from the wrist.””
About This Quote
Source Book: An Unquiet Mind, 1995
Life’s inherent chaos makes total control impossible; we must accept change and the unpredictable nature of existence.
In simple terms: Accept life’s chaos; control is limited.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty.
Themes
life
chaos
control
acceptance
psychology
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- mental health coping
- philosophical reflection
- stress management
Key Concepts
impermanence
uncertainty
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance acceptance with proactive action?
- What strategies help cope with life’s unpredictability?
A Different Perspective
Attempting total control leads to frustration and burnout.
![“...even though [my psychiatrist] understood mor than anyone how much I felt I was losing--in energy, vivacity, and originality--by taking medication, he never was seduced into losing sight of the overall perspective of how costly, damaging, and life threatening my illness was. He was at ease with…” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57f/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_life_even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-m_3399.jpg)
