---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A critical key to achieving success lies…"
description: "\"A critical key to achieving success lies in your ability to activate your potential to create the results you seek... start by being aware of your self..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg"
---

#  A critical key to achieving success lies in your ability…

![“A critical key to achieving success lies in your ability to activate your potential to create the results you seek... start by being aware of your self-sabotaging patterns.” quote by Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg)

> “A critical key to achieving success lies in your ability to activate your potential to create the results you seek... start by being aware of your self-sabotaging patterns.”

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success depends on recognizing and breaking self‑sabotaging habits, then actively engaging one’s potential to achieve goals.

**In simple terms:** Know and stop self‑sabotage, then act on potential.

Key Takeaway

Identify sabotaging patterns, then activate potential.

Themes

self‑improvement psychology goal‑setting

Mood

motivational pragmatic

Type

self‑help practical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal coaching
- habit formation

Key Concepts

mindset behavior change potential activation

Questions to Reflect On

- What self‑sabotaging habit holds you back?
- How can you create accountability for change?

A Different Perspective

Awareness alone may not change behavior without structured support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Achieving success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieving-success/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Sabotaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sabotaging/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/)

## Related quotes

> [As long as I can remember, I saw myself as black. I was socially conditioned to discard that. It was an all-white town. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dolezal/as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-saw-myself-as-black-i-was-socially/)

[Rachel Dolezal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-dolezal/)

> [“Take a moral inventory of ways you may be self-sabotaging and then take proactive steps to change them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/take-a-moral-inventory-of-ways-you-may-be-self-sabotaging-and-then/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [My teacher said I had a self sabotaging personality when I showed up drunk for traffic school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/my-teacher-said-i-had-a-self-sabotaging-personality-when-i-showed-up/)

[Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/)

> [Lack of forgiveness causes almost all of our self-sabotaging behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/lack-of-forgiveness-causes-almost-all-of-our-self-sabotaging-behavior/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [People ask, why hasn't that person busted out? Almost always, at the end of it, consciously or subconsciously, it hasn't happened because that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/people-ask-why-hasn-t-that-person-busted-out-almost-always-at-the-end/)

[Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/)

> [“Pain serves to help you grow, don't run from it by self-sabotaging. You will slow your progress and hinder your growth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanesia-harris/pain-serves-to-help-you-grow-don-t-run-from-it-by-self-sabotaging-you/)

[Tanesia Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanesia-harris/)

> [“What if someone had the potential to discover a formula to unlock the mysteries of the universe wanted to become a pulp fiction writer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sakurazaka/what-if-someone-had-the-potential-to-discover-a-formula-to-unlock-the/)

[Hiroshi Sakurazaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sakurazaka/)

> [You don't have the potential to create, you are always creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-don-t-have-the-potential-to-create-you-are-always-creating/)

[Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/)

> [I have always wanted my art to service my people - to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-catlett/i-have-always-wanted-my-art-to-service-my-people-to-reflect-us-to/)

[Elizabeth Catlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-catlett/)

> [I think people kind of come up and go, "Why hasn't that person busted out?" Almost always at the end of career, what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-people-kind-of-come-up-and-go-why-hasn-t-that-person-busted/)

[Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/)

> [To me, that's the important issue about spiritual principle: that you recognize it as both that which saves you from the self-sabotaging mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/to-me-that-s-the-important-issue-about-spiritual-principle-that-you/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [The rewards are profound. Shadow-work enables us to alter our self-sabotaging behavior so that we can achieve a more self-directed life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-zweig/the-rewards-are-profound-shadow-work-enables-us-to-alter-our-self/)

[Connie Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-zweig/)

> [Recognizing and replacing the unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and feelings that may be sabotaging your best efforts is the key to building mental strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/recognizing-and-replacing-the-unhealthy-thoughts-behaviors-and/)

[Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/)

> [“What gets in the way of your life unfolding the way you want it to? When we drill down to uncover the answer, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaria-baldwin/what-gets-in-the-way-of-your-life-unfolding-the-way-you-want-it-to/)

[Hilaria Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaria-baldwin/)

> [“I didn’t like how my body seemed to be intent on sabotaging my brain, especially since my brain was so good at sabotaging itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-didn-t-like-how-my-body-seemed-to-be-intent-on-sabotaging-my-brain/)

[Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/)

## More by Lauren Mackler

> [Do work you love, in which you can excel: The smaller the gap between who you are in your personal life and who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/do-work-you-love-in-which-you-can-excel-the-smaller-the-gap-between/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [The best antidote to stress is resilience... having the ability to respond to change or adversity proactively and resourcefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/the-best-antidote-to-stress-is-resilience-having-the-ability-to/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [As we, the world, and the way we live have become more complex, we've moved further away from living in alignment with our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/as-we-the-world-and-the-way-we-live-have-become-more-complex-we-ve/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Chronic negative thinking and the emotions it invokes is, like many destructive behaviors, a form of addiction... it may not be very pleasant, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/chronic-negative-thinking-and-the-emotions-it-invokes-is-like-many/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Being busy and being productive are not necessarily the same. Many people keep busy to avoid taking action on things they're afraid to pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/being-busy-and-being-productive-are-not-necessarily-the-same-many/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Over time, you'll find that the more you trust your intuition and allow it to set your direction, the more you build that trust.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/over-time-you-ll-find-that-the-more-you-trust-your-intuition-and/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Have compassion for your humanity and your flaws. You're human and you're going to make mistakes. Look at yourself through the eyes of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/have-compassion-for-your-humanity-and-your-flaws-you-re-human-and-you/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Hiding our true thoughts and feelings is just one example of how we give our power away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/hiding-our-true-thoughts-and-feelings-is-just-one-example-of-how-we/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Chronic self-doubt is a symptom of the core belief, 'I'm not good enough.' We adopt these types of limiting beliefs in response to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/chronic-self-doubt-is-a-symptom-of-the-core-belief-i-m-not-good/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Aligning what you do with who you are requires commitment, effort, and perseverance. But the rewards are well worth it. Not only will it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/aligning-what-you-do-with-who-you-are-requires-commitment-effort-and/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [If you're eating poorly, neglecting your health, or living a high-stress lifestyle, you're depleting your inner resources. That will make it difficult to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/if-you-re-eating-poorly-neglecting-your-health-or-living-a-high/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [If you feel overwhelmed, you may be trying to achieve too much at once. Step back and look at your goals. If you're doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/if-you-feel-overwhelmed-you-may-be-trying-to-achieve-too-much-at-once/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Mastering the art of aloneness doesn't mean living in isolation or never needing the love, support, and involvement of others. It means creating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/mastering-the-art-of-aloneness-doesn-t-mean-living-in-isolation-or/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [People become discouraged when they listen to their 'inner critic'... Whatever that voice is saying, articulate a response, drawing from the part of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/people-become-discouraged-when-they-listen-to-their-inner-critic/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

> [Many people's unhappiness is rooted in the habitual role they play. While our family role may have made sense growing up, it often wreaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/many-people-s-unhappiness-is-rooted-in-the-habitual-role-they-play/)

[Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

[Explore all 26 Lauren Mackler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A critical key to achieving success lies in your ability to activate your potential to create the results you seek... start by being aware of your self-sabotaging patterns.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lauren Mackler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies-in-your-ability-to-activate/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies-in-your-ability-to-activate/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/lauren-mackler-23236_ability_a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies_2535685.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A critical key to achieving success lies in your ability to activate your potential to create the results…” — Lauren Mackler",
                "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": "Lauren Mackler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A critical key to achieving success...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies-in-your-ability-to-activate/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/a-critical-key-to-achieving-success-lies-in-your-ability-to-activate/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
