--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything that happens in our lives…" description: "\"“Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into who we are. I made mistakes, too, Justin, but looking back on them, I realize I wouldn’t be who I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg" --- # Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into who we… ![“Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into who we are. I made mistakes, too, Justin, but looking back on them, I realize I wouldn’t be who I was today if I’d made different choices. Right or wrong, good or bad, we’re the product of all of those decisions. You wouldn’t be the Justin who…” quote by Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg) > ““Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into who we are. I made mistakes, too, Justin, but looking back on them, I realize I wouldn’t be who I was today if I’d made different choices. Right or wrong, good or bad, we’re the product of all of those decisions. You wouldn’t be the Justin who was selected to be in The Unit, and you wouldn’t have learned all of this survival stuff, and you wouldn’t be the Justin I know now.”” [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our choices, both good and bad, shape our identity; each decision contributes to who we become. **In simple terms:** Decisions define us. Key Takeaway Embrace all experiences as growth. Themes identity choice growth resilience Mood thoughtful hopeful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship choices - learning from mistakes Key Concepts personal development cause and effect self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - Which past decision most shaped you? - Can you find value in a mistake? A Different Perspective Some choices have irreversible consequences that may cause regret. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decisions Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-wouldn-3114020/) [Different choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-choices/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Justin Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justin-know-3114019/) [Justin Selected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justin-selected-3114018/) [Mistakes Justin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes-justin-3114017/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) ## Related quotes > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“If you have a boat to sail, land becomes a choice! If you do not have a boat to sail, land becomes a fate!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-have-a-boat-to-sail-land-becomes-a-choice-if-you-do-not-have-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Yes, I could have made some different choices in life but I didn what I did, both good and bad and I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yes-i-could-have-made-some-different-choices-in-life-but-i-didn-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are all the same. We just make different choices in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/we-are-all-the-same-we-just-make-different-choices-in-life/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“Insight 1: Human decision making serves evolutionary goals. The traditional way of thinking about human behavior is based almost completely on a consideration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/insight-1-human-decision-making-serves-evolutionary-goals-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People everywhere hear the excuse “there’s not enough money”. In actuality, there is enough money… just different priorities. New stadium, heathcare for all, faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/people-everywhere-hear-the-excuse-there-s-not-enough-money-in/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [“But when we make choices that are different than what our friends are doing, it might seem to them that we are questioning their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennetta-billhimer/but-when-we-make-choices-that-are-different-than-what-our-friends-are/) [Jennetta Billhimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennetta-billhimer/) > [Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains two descriptions: could have and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/don-t-fear-failure-so-much-that-you-refuse-to-try-new-things-the/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [“Anthony’s current wealth is 1 million. Betty’s current wealth is 4 million. They are both offered a choice between a gamble and a sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/anthony-s-current-wealth-is-1-million-betty-s-current-wealth-is-4/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [I used to write travel essays, and I was struck by how the fact of writing about a place would change my relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-used-to-write-travel-essays-and-i-was-struck-by-how-the-fact-of/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [For any actor - not just talking about myself - but if you've been fortunate enough to work for a long period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/for-any-actor-not-just-talking-about-myself-but-if-you-ve-been/) [Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/) > [“like to think that somewhere out there, on a planet exactly like ours, two people exactly like you and me made totally different choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-to-think-that-somewhere-out-there-on-a-planet-exactly-like-ours/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I really like the risk takers. I like people who make those different choices on the carpet. I really like Charlize Theron. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-rodriguez/i-really-like-the-risk-takers-i-like-people-who-make-those-different/) [Genesis Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-rodriguez/) > [There are times when I wish I could go back and change the course of my life. Make different choices...But the past cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-times-when-i-wish-i-could-go-back-and-change-the-course-of/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Our enemies send other people's children on missions of suicide and murder. They embrace tyranny and death as a cause and a creed. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/our-enemies-send-other-people-s-children-on-missions-of-suicide-and/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Lissa Bryan > [“See? Nothing to it." "I see all right," Carly said, her tone full of awe. She gaped at him. "What?" "Um..." "Jesus, Carly, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/see-nothing-to-it-i-see-all-right-carly-said-her-tone-full-of-awe-she/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“It wasn’t a question he was prepared for. “I . . . Yes. Yes, I’m your friend.” “Then you are capable of something beyond the physical.” “That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/it-wasn-t-a-question-he-was-prepared-for-i-yes-yes-i-m-your-friend/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“I think you’re wrong,” she said. “I don’t think humans were supposed to die out during the Infection. And I think those of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/i-think-you-re-wrong-she-said-i-don-t-think-humans-were-supposed-to/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“But more importantly, know I love you more than I can say with simple words. Poets have attempted for centuries to find the perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/but-more-importantly-know-i-love-you-more-than-i-can-say-with-simple/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“Seth: "I write of love in my novels, write of it well, if my critics and fans are to be believed, but in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/seth-i-write-of-love-in-my-novels-write-of-it-well-if-my-critics-and/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“She could tell he was wavering and had to suppress a grin. “And horses eat grass, right? She’ll find plenty of that along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/she-could-tell-he-was-wavering-and-had-to-suppress-a-grin-and-horses/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“What if I told you I was a bad person, once?” Justin’s voice was low; it was almost lost in the whirring of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/what-if-i-told-you-i-was-a-bad-person-once-justin-s-voice-was-low-it/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s forging ahead despite that fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/courage-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear-it-s-forging-ahead-despite-that-fear/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“There’s no crying in baseball,” Justin said. “And there’s no being grossed out in an apocalypse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/there-s-no-crying-in-baseball-justin-said-and-there-s-no-being/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“Carly heard the click of Shadowfax’s hooves as she came over to them. She snorted in Carly’s face and bumped her nose against her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/carly-heard-the-click-of-shadowfax-s-hooves-as-she-came-over-to-them/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [“Carly stopped at the base of the flags. One more foot forward and she would leave Alaska for the first time, and likely never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/carly-stopped-at-the-base-of-the-flags-one-more-foot-forward-and-she/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) [Explore all 12 Lissa Bryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [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/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into who we are. I made mistakes, too, Justin, but looking back on them, I realize I wouldn’t be who I was today if I’d made different choices. Right or wrong, good or bad, we’re the product of all of those decisions. You wouldn’t be the Justin who was selected to be in The Unit, and you wouldn’t have learned all of this survival stuff, and you wouldn’t be the Justin I know now.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lissa Bryan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-shapes-us-into-who-we-are-i-made/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-shapes-us-into-who-we-are-i-made/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/lissa-bryan-37876_different-choices_everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-sha_1131741.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into who we are. I made mistakes, too, Justin, but looking…” — Lissa Bryan", "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": "Lissa Bryan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Everything that happens in our lives...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-shapes-us-into-who-we-are-i-made/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/everything-that-happens-in-our-lives-shapes-us-into-who-we-are-i-made/#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 } } ] } ```