--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've learned that asking ourselves not…" description: "\"I've learned that asking ourselves not just what we want to be, but who we want to be is important at every stage of our lives, not just when we're sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/maria-shriver-8191_asking_i-ve-learned-that-asking-ourselves-not-j_3013808.jpg" --- # I've learned that asking ourselves not just what we want… ![“I've learned that asking ourselves not just what we want to be, but who we want to be is important at every stage of our lives, not just when we're starting out in the world. That's because in a way, we're starting out fresh in the world every single day.” quote by Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/maria-shriver-8191_asking_i-ve-learned-that-asking-ourselves-not-j_3013808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/maria-shriver-8191_asking_i-ve-learned-that-asking-ourselves-not-j_3013808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/maria-shriver-8191_asking_i-ve-learned-that-asking-ourselves-not-j_3013808.jpg) > “I've learned that asking ourselves not just what we want to be, but who we want to be is important at every stage of our lives, not just when we're starting out in the world. That's because in a way, we're starting out fresh in the world every single day.” [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑identity, not just aspirations, guides life stages; each day offers a fresh start. **In simple terms:** Who you want to be matters. Key Takeaway Define your identity. Themes self‑growth identity life stages Mood inspirational reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career planning - education - daily reflection Key Concepts psychology philosophy personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you shape your identity daily? - What values define you? A Different Perspective Identity can be fluid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Every single day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-single-day/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Starting Fresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-fresh/) [Starting out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-out/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Every luxury must be paid for, and everything is a luxury, starting with being in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/every-luxury-must-be-paid-for-and-everything-is-a-luxury-starting/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Starting in a World Cup is always complicated, hard, and important. When you start well... The rest of the competitors are watching. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/starting-in-a-world-cup-is-always-complicated-hard-and-important-when/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [A lot of people approach their barn or horse like they are going to war, because it's been going badly. So you pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-meehl/a-lot-of-people-approach-their-barn-or-horse-like-they-are-going-to/) Cindy Meehl > [What I like about writing a stand alone novel is you're starting with a fresh world and fresh characters. Part of what I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-koryta/what-i-like-about-writing-a-stand-alone-novel-is-you-re-starting-with/) [Michael Koryta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-koryta/) > [They come to me with a lot of questions about things. I am the teacher on the show, and its kind of translated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/they-come-to-me-with-a-lot-of-questions-about-things-i-am-the-teacher/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [“Now is the time of fresh starts This is the season that makes everything new. There is a longstanding rumor that Spring is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-swift/now-is-the-time-of-fresh-starts-this-is-the-season-that-makes/) [Vivian Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-swift/) > [Habit is formed out of memory... We often shape our present situation according to those habitual memories. Instead of starting fresh, we go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/habit-is-formed-out-of-memory-we-often-shape-our-present-situation/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Like anyone who goes to college, you're leaving a familiar surrounding and a comfortable environment and your friends and everything, and you're starting fresh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-biggs/like-anyone-who-goes-to-college-you-re-leaving-a-familiar-surrounding/) [Jason Biggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-biggs/) > [You just have to approach every day and say, 'If you were starting fresh today, what would my portfolio look like?' So that's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/you-just-have-to-approach-every-day-and-say-if-you-were-starting/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [I've discovered that like every writer, I'm helpless MYSELF - and that means I find myself unconsciously or semi-consciously repeating motifs and themes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/i-ve-discovered-that-like-every-writer-i-m-helpless-myself-and-that/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [Yeah I do think featherweight is done for me. It sucks because I worked hard and fought a lot of hard fights and did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/yeah-i-do-think-featherweight-is-done-for-me-it-sucks-because-i/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [Starting clean is a theme for me - starting fresh and understanding what's important about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chyler-leigh/starting-clean-is-a-theme-for-me-starting-fresh-and-understanding/) [Chyler Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chyler-leigh/) > [I see the beauty of Mike's attempt to devise an ideal ethic and applaud his recognition that such must start by junking the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-see-the-beauty-of-mike-s-attempt-to-devise-an-ideal-ethic-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Courage is making a difference in your life and in the world; Courage is standing up for yourself and against injustice; Courage is appreciating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/courage-is-making-a-difference-in-your-life-and-in-the-world-courage/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [In a way, yes, because I was starting something fresh, and it was something totally independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skitch-henderson/in-a-way-yes-because-i-was-starting-something-fresh-and-it-was/) [Skitch Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skitch-henderson/) ## More by Maria Shriver > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Make time in your life to listen to your own voice. Do not let it get drowned out by others. Your voice is yours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/make-time-in-your-life-to-listen-to-your-own-voice-do-not-let-it-get/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Pausing allows you to take a beat to take a breath in your life. As everybody else is rushing around like a lunatic out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/pausing-allows-you-to-take-a-beat-to-take-a-breath-in-your-life-as/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [God puts mentors in your path. They may not look like you, sound like you, or be what you expect. But they always know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/god-puts-mentors-in-your-path-they-may-not-look-like-you-sound-like/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [One of my greatest joys is poetry. I read it almost every day, and I've even taken a stab at writing some of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/one-of-my-greatest-joys-is-poetry-i-read-it-almost-every-day-and-i-ve/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [We've witnessed history in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/we-ve-witnessed-history-in-the-making/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [I stand on the shoulders of women who marched before me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/i-stand-on-the-shoulders-of-women-who-marched-before-me/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [So many people don't know who's on the State Seal and they don't know, not just in California but the United States of America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/so-many-people-don-t-know-who-s-on-the-state-seal-and-they-don-t-know/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [I like meeting people and I like being able to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/i-like-meeting-people-and-i-like-being-able-to-help/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [I don't believe in gutter politics. I don't believe in gutter journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/i-don-t-believe-in-gutter-politics-i-don-t-believe-in-gutter/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [“Listen: You can't short-circuit the learning process. It takes time to get to the top, and that's good-because by the time you get there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/listen-you-can-t-short-circuit-the-learning-process-it-takes-time-to/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [I think that public service is tough on a family - no ifs, ands, buts about it. I have my own personal wishes, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/i-think-that-public-service-is-tough-on-a-family-no-ifs-ands-buts/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [We all know what happens to first ladies who shoot their mouths off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/we-all-know-what-happens-to-first-ladies-who-shoot-their-mouths-off/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [You don't wanna walk around and say, 'I'm somebody's niece, I'm somebody's cousin, I'm somebody's daughter. Who are you?' And I think that's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/you-don-t-wanna-walk-around-and-say-i-m-somebody-s-niece-i-m-somebody/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Have the courage to go beyond other people's rules and expectations. I pray that you will live and write your own story and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/have-the-courage-to-go-beyond-other-people-s-rules-and-expectations-i/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) [Explore all 83 Maria Shriver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've learned that asking ourselves not just what we want to be, but who we want to be is important at every stage of our lives, not just when we're starting out in the world. 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