--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we become aware of what's happening…" description: "\"If we become aware of what's happening before we act, behaviour becomes a function of choice rather than a result of an impulse or trigger. You begin t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/marshall-goldsmith-6918_behaviour_if-we-become-aware-of-what-s-happening-b_3111285.png" --- # If we become aware of what's happening before we act… ![“If we become aware of what's happening before we act, behaviour becomes a function of choice rather than a result of an impulse or trigger. You begin to control your world more as opposed to the outside world controlling you.” quote by Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/marshall-goldsmith-6918_behaviour_if-we-become-aware-of-what-s-happening-b_3111285.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/marshall-goldsmith-6918_behaviour_if-we-become-aware-of-what-s-happening-b_3111285.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/marshall-goldsmith-6918_behaviour_if-we-become-aware-of-what-s-happening-b_3111285.png) > “If we become aware of what's happening before we act, behaviour becomes a function of choice rather than a result of an impulse or trigger. You begin to control your world more as opposed to the outside world controlling you.” [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness before action lets you choose responses, shifting control from impulses to deliberate decisions. **In simple terms:** Being aware lets you choose actions instead of reacting. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness to guide choices. Themes self‑improvement leadership psychology decision‑making Mood reflective motivational Type self‑help leadership When to use this quote - stressful meetings - conflict resolution - habit change - goal setting Key Concepts mindfulness self‑awareness behavioral control agency Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your impulses? - How can you reinforce mindful choices? A Different Perspective Limitation: Awareness alone may not change deep‑seated habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-behaviour-5433857/) [Aware Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware-happening-261215/) [Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour/) [Behaviour Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour-function-3680597/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Controlling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlling/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) [Result](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/result/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Our Behaviour is a function of our decisions, not our conditions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-covey/our-behaviour-is-a-function-of-our-decisions-not-our-conditions/) [Steven Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-covey/) > [I listen to most everything that's out there because I need to stay aware of what's happening in the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-ross/i-listen-to-most-everything-that-s-out-there-because-i-need-to-stay/) [Diana Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-ross/) > [We live in such extreme times that I think we all have a responsibility to be aware of what's happening and talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-koenig/we-live-in-such-extreme-times-that-i-think-we-all-have-a/) [Ezra Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-koenig/) > [Awareness is very, very important because we're living in a world which is literally shrinking by the day. We are global citizens. So, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freida-pinto/awareness-is-very-very-important-because-we-re-living-in-a-world/) [Freida Pinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freida-pinto/) > [People aren't really aware of what's happening in other places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwidge-danticat/people-aren-t-really-aware-of-what-s-happening-in-other-places/) [Edwidge Danticat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwidge-danticat/) > [“Death is the only thing in life that you absolutely have to be aware of as it's happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/death-is-the-only-thing-in-life-that-you-absolutely-have-to-be-aware/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baraz/mindfulness-is-simply-being-aware-of-what-is-happening-right-now/) [James Baraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baraz/) > [We're all living blinkered lives, and we're not seeing what's going on and looking to change it. I'm not saying that everyone has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/we-re-all-living-blinkered-lives-and-we-re-not-seeing-what-s-going-on/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [Because I was a shy and awkward child, I used humour to deflect attention. It was a controlling mechanism. Because I could use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/because-i-was-a-shy-and-awkward-child-i-used-humour-to-deflect/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [There's so many things you can't account for that can happen during each race. I just focus on controlling what I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-elliott/there-s-so-many-things-you-can-t-account-for-that-can-happen-during/) [Chase Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-elliott/) > [We're failing when it comes to controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-failing-when-it-comes-to-controlling-spending/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [“I hope I can never trust my wife. If I trust her it means I know her. If I know her it means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/i-hope-i-can-never-trust-my-wife-if-i-trust-her-it-means-i-know-her/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [When you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of the child, you have solved the entire problem of its education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-you-have-solved-the-problem-of-controlling-the-attention-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) ## More by Marshall Goldsmith > [Our inner beliefs trigger failure before it happens. They sabotage lasting change by canceling its possibility. We employ these beliefs as articles of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/our-inner-beliefs-trigger-failure-before-it-happens-they-sabotage/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [If the CEO is not going to give you a fair chance, you're probably not going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/if-the-ceo-is-not-going-to-give-you-a-fair-chance-you-re-probably-not/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Never confuse acquiring degrees with wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/never-confuse-acquiring-degrees-with-wisdom/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Change is not a one-way street- it involves two parties: the person who is changing and the people who notice it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/change-is-not-a-one-way-street-it-involves-two-parties-the-person-who/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/active-questions-are-the-alternative-to-passive-questions-there-is-a/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [We deify willpower and self-control - and mock its absence. People who achieve through remarkable willpower are 'strong' and 'heroic.' People who need help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-deify-willpower-and-self-control-and-mock-its-absence-people-who/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Those who lead by example and demonstrate passion for what they do make it much easier for their followers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/those-who-lead-by-example-and-demonstrate-passion-for-what-they-do/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/one-of-the-most-important-actions-things-a-leader-can-do-is-to-lead/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Almost everyone I meet is successful because of doing a lot of things right, and almost everyone I meet is successful in spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/almost-everyone-i-meet-is-successful-because-of-doing-a-lot-of-things/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [In our world, we have this huge focus on vicarious living - politicians, movie stars, athletes, coaches, all these people. What our research has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/in-our-world-we-have-this-huge-focus-on-vicarious-living-politicians/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [It's not appropriate to pass judgment when we specifically ask people to voice their opinions... even if you ask a question and agree with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/it-s-not-appropriate-to-pass-judgment-when-we-specifically-ask-people/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [The only thing I don't think people don't understand about good leaders is that they're both good and lucky. A lot of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-only-thing-i-don-t-think-people-don-t-understand-about-good/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [As I've gotten older, I've gotten simpler - my level of aspiration has actually gone down and down. But my level of impact has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-gotten-simpler-my-level-of-aspiration-has/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [The more we are committed to believing that something is true, the less likely we are to believe that its opposite is true, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-more-we-are-committed-to-believing-that-something-is-true-the/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [The people I coach are very successful people, so it's very hard for winners to not constantly win. Even if it's trivial and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-people-i-coach-are-very-successful-people-so-it-s-very-hard-for/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) [Explore all 96 Marshall Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) ## More Behaviour quotes > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [I don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-don-t-see-much-future-for-the-americans-it-s-a-decayed-country-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“To live without any regret is to act right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-live-without-any-regret-is-to-act-right/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I think it's a very central tenet to it yes, it is. I can't bear it, I can't bear inequality, I can't bear bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-suzman/i-think-it-s-a-very-central-tenet-to-it-yes-it-is-i-can-t-bear-it-i/) [Janet Suzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-suzman/) > [Look, I was only given a year or two to come up with tunes for this record, and when all but eight of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gorrie/look-i-was-only-given-a-year-or-two-to-come-up-with-tunes-for-this/) [Alan Gorrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gorrie/) > [Behaviour is a mirror in which everyone shows his image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinesh/behaviour-is-a-mirror-in-which-everyone-shows-his-image/) [Vinesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinesh/) > [There's a wow factor associated with my name. It could be due to my work as well as my behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/there-s-a-wow-factor-associated-with-my-name-it-could-be-due-to-my/) [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/) > [The individualism of current economic theory is manifest in the purely self-interested behaviour it generally assumes. It has no real place for fairness, malevolence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-daly/the-individualism-of-current-economic-theory-is-manifest-in-the/) [Herman E. Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-daly/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Modern man, seeking a middle position in the evaluation of sense impression and thought, can, following Plato , interpret the process of understanding nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-pauli/modern-man-seeking-a-middle-position-in-the-evaluation-of-sense/) [Wolfgang Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-pauli/) > [“I think this is one bad side of a mirror; it helps us to see the reflection of the effects of our own actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-think-this-is-one-bad-side-of-a-mirror-it-helps-us-to-see-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [A lot of celebrities just want money, fame, power, fancy cars, houses all over the world and have people BOW DOWN to them. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/a-lot-of-celebrities-just-want-money-fame-power-fancy-cars-houses-all/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) [Browse all 696 Behaviour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we become aware of what's happening before we act, behaviour becomes a function of choice rather than a result of an impulse or trigger. 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