--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're miserable, make a choice. If…" description: "\"If you're miserable, make a choice. If you're still miserable, you can choose again.\" — Martha Beck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/martha-beck-961_choice_if-you-re-miserable-make-a-choice-if-you_2213905.png" --- # If you're miserable, make a choice. If you're still… ![“If you're miserable, make a choice. If you're still miserable, you can choose again.” quote by Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/martha-beck-961_choice_if-you-re-miserable-make-a-choice-if-you_2213905.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/martha-beck-961_choice_if-you-re-miserable-make-a-choice-if-you_2213905.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/martha-beck-961_choice_if-you-re-miserable-make-a-choice-if-you_2213905.png) > “If you're miserable, make a choice. If you're still miserable, you can choose again.” [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal agency determines emotional state; if one choice fails, another can be made. **In simple terms:** You control your happiness through choices. Key Takeaway Choose differently when unhappy. Themes personal responsibility choice resilience Mood reflective empowering Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - career decision - relationship conflict - health habit change - creative block Key Concepts agency self‑determination emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What choices have you avoided? - How can you assess if a new choice aligns with your values? A Different Perspective Choosing may not solve underlying issues without self‑reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) ## Related quotes > [Don't blame destiny if you have a fuck life it's your choice to be miserable or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianepublico/don-t-blame-destiny-if-you-have-a-fuck-life-it-s-your-choice-to-be/) Marianepublico > [The only way not to be miserable is to choose not to be, accept who you are and just live the best out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olermiday/the-only-way-not-to-be-miserable-is-to-choose-not-to-be-accept-who/) [Blaze Olermiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olermiday/) > [For me, I think you make a choice what kind of actor you want to be, and then it's kind of the material you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-brandt/for-me-i-think-you-make-a-choice-what-kind-of-actor-you-want-to-be/) [Betsy Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-brandt/) > [Life is simple, you make a choice and dont look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-simple-you-make-a-choice-and-dont-look-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm used to the fact that the world views movie actors as personalities. I'm in the extremely fortunate position of making a living at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bratt/i-m-used-to-the-fact-that-the-world-views-movie-actors-as/) [Benjamin Bratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bratt/) > [Every decision I make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/every-decision-i-make-is-a-choice-between-a-grievance-and-a-miracle/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [You can't be said to make a choice when you only have one option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henci-goer/you-can-t-be-said-to-make-a-choice-when-you-only-have-one-option/) [Henci Goer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henci-goer/) > [You make choice's about your life if you want to life or die sometimes I think I feel like dying because know one care's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skrillex/you-make-choice-s-about-your-life-if-you-want-to-life-or-die/) [Skrillex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skrillex/) > [You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-make-a-choice-to-take-a-chance-or-your-life-will-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Make a choice. Everyday prepare for your chance to find opportunity and never fear change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/make-a-choice-everyday-prepare-for-your-chance-to-find-opportunity/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Whether you are happy or miserable is completely a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/whether-you-are-happy-or-miserable-is-completely-a-choice/) [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) > [Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-miserable-or-motivate-yourself-whatever-has-to-be-done-it-s-always/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes ## More by Martha Beck > [Imagine what you'd do if it absolutely didn't matter what people thought of you. Got it? Good. Never go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/imagine-what-you-d-do-if-it-absolutely-didn-t-matter-what-people/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [If I tell a man he needs to quit his soul-sucking job, he has to go home and fight with his wife or fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/if-i-tell-a-man-he-needs-to-quit-his-soul-sucking-job-he-has-to-go/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [There has never been, and never will be, anyone who sees, thinks, or responds exactly the way you do. Whether you’re revolutionizing physics or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/there-has-never-been-and-never-will-be-anyone-who-sees-thinks-or/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Loneliness is proof that your innate search for connection is intact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/loneliness-is-proof-that-your-innate-search-for-connection-is-intact/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Most of my clients don't realize that the way they look and the way they think about their looks are two separate issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/most-of-my-clients-don-t-realize-that-the-way-they-look-and-the-way/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [The power to bring me out of solitude - or to push me back into it - had never belonged to another person. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-power-to-bring-me-out-of-solitude-or-to-push-me-back-into-it-had/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Learning to quit while you're not ahead, when the dull ooze of depression tells you things are not going to get any better, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/learning-to-quit-while-you-re-not-ahead-when-the-dull-ooze-of/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [The important thing is to tell yourself a life story in which you, the hero, are primarily a problem solver rather than a helpless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-important-thing-is-to-tell-yourself-a-life-story-in-which-you-the/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [A joyful life isn’t about others; it’s about the brightness that is associated with being alive. Your path to it is through anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/a-joyful-life-isn-t-about-others-it-s-about-the-brightness-that-is/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured. Without it, we wouldn't even know what it means to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/fear-is-the-raw-material-from-which-courage-is-manufactured-without/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Many people think passion is a fuzzy feeling that makes taking action effortless. In fact, it's the gritty courage and tenacity to forge onward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/many-people-think-passion-is-a-fuzzy-feeling-that-makes-taking-action/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Angels come in many shapes and sizes, and most of them are not invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/angels-come-in-many-shapes-and-sizes-and-most-of-them-are-not/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Truth itself is something you live, not something you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/truth-itself-is-something-you-live-not-something-you-think/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) [Explore all 318 Martha Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [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/) > [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/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [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/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're miserable, make a choice. 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