--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To really 'live,' that is to find life…" description: "\"To really 'live,' that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have an adequate and realistic self-image that you can life with. You must find ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png" --- # To really 'live,' that is to find life reasonably… ![“To really 'live,' that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have an adequate and realistic self-image that you can life with. You must find yourself acceptable to 'you.'” quote by Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png) > “To really 'live,' that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have an adequate and realistic self-image that you can life with. You must find yourself acceptable to 'you.'” [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from accepting oneself realistically and finding satisfaction in life’s ordinary experiences. **In simple terms:** Accept yourself and find contentment in everyday life. Key Takeaway Cultivate realistic self‑image for lasting happiness. Themes self‑acceptance contentment realism psychology well‑being Mood thoughtful encouraging pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal relationships - daily routines - goal setting Key Concepts Self‑concept cognitive alignment personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How realistic is your self‑image? - What steps can you take to improve self‑acceptance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑acceptance may ignore growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Finding yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-yourself/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-life/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) ## Related quotes > [Saving her life was the one acceptable thing I'd done since I met her. The one thing that I was not ashamed of. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/saving-her-life-was-the-one-acceptable-thing-i-d-done-since-i-met-her/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [Money isn't the most important thing in life, but it's reasonably close to oxygen on the 'gotta have it' scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/money-isn-t-the-most-important-thing-in-life-but-it-s-reasonably/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I try to be realistic and self-depreciating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-searcy/i-try-to-be-realistic-and-self-depreciating/) [Nick Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-searcy/) > [It is not acceptable for customers in one member state to pay the price for a company to become a bigger player in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neelie-kroes/it-is-not-acceptable-for-customers-in-one-member-state-to-pay-the/) [Neelie Kroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neelie-kroes/) > [Every day you must try to make your own self-image grow; this you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/every-day-you-must-try-to-make-your-own-self-image-grow-this-you-can/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [We act, we behave, and we feel the vibration that we're in at the present time according to what we consider our self image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/we-act-we-behave-and-we-feel-the-vibration-that-we-re-in-at-the/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/self-image-sets-the-boundaries-of-individual-accomplishment/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/our-self-image-strongly-held-essentially-determines-what-we-become/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [The 'self-image' is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self image and you change the personality and the behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/the-self-image-is-the-key-to-human-personality-and-human-behavior/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [You are embarking on the greatest adventure of your life - to improve your self-image, to create more meaning in your life and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/you-are-embarking-on-the-greatest-adventure-of-your-life-to-improve/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Our self image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/our-self-image-and-our-habits-tend-to-go-together-change-one-and-you-2/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [When we consciously and deliberately develop new and better habits, our self image tends to outgrow the old habits and grow into the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/when-we-consciously-and-deliberately-develop-new-and-better-habits/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [When a person has adequate self-esteem little slights offer no threat at all - they are simply "passed over" and ignored. Even deeper emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/when-a-person-has-adequate-self-esteem-little-slights-offer-no-threat/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [“Beauty's only skin deep. Everybody has ugly days. We're all made of the same stuff underneath. Acting right is better than looking right. Realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-delany/beauty-s-only-skin-deep-everybody-has-ugly-days-we-re-all-made-of-the/) [Shannon Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-delany/) > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## More by Maxwell Maltz > [This Creative Mechanism within you is impersonal. It will work automatically and impersonally to achieve goals of success and happiness, or unhappiness and failure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/this-creative-mechanism-within-you-is-impersonal-it-will-work/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your automatic guidance system cannot guide you when you're stalled, “standing still”.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-automatic-guidance-system-cannot-guide-you-when-you-re-stalled/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [You can do only one thing at a time. I simply tackle one problem and concentrate all efforts on what I am doing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/you-can-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-simply-tackle-one-problem-and/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Within you, whoever you may be, regardless of how big a failure you may think yourself to be, is the ability and the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/within-you-whoever-you-may-be-regardless-of-how-big-a-failure-you-may/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Functionally, a man is somewhat like a bicycle. A bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it's moving forward towards something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/functionally-a-man-is-somewhat-like-a-bicycle-a-bicycle-maintains-its/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Faith, courage, optimism, looking forward, bring us new life and more life. Futility, frustration, living in the past are not only characteristic of 'old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/faith-courage-optimism-looking-forward-bring-us-new-life-and-more/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-make-friends-with-yourself-you-will-never-be-alone/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [People who say that life is not worthwhile are really saying that they themselves have no personal goals which are worthwhile. Prescription: Get yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/people-who-say-that-life-is-not-worthwhile-are-really-saying-that/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person's feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/take-the-trouble-to-stop-and-think-of-the-other-person-s-feelings-his/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your present negative beliefs were formed by thought PLUS feelings. Generate enough emotion, or deep feeling and your new thoughts and ideas will cancel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-present-negative-beliefs-were-formed-by-thought-plus-feelings/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [The greatest miracle you can hope for is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/the-greatest-miracle-you-can-hope-for-is-self-acceptance/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Get yourself a goal worth working for. Better still, get yourself a project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/get-yourself-a-goal-worth-working-for-better-still-get-yourself-a/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [For imagination sets the goal picture which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of will, as is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/for-imagination-sets-the-goal-picture-which-our-automatic-mechanism/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you wait until circumstances justify your thinking pleasant thoughts, you are likely to wait forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-wait-until-circumstances-justify-your-thinking-pleasant/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) [Explore all 130 Maxwell Maltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/) Harold Covington > [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/) Sally Struthers > [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To really 'live,' that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have an adequate and realistic self-image that you can life with. You must find yourself acceptable to 'you.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maxwell Maltz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reasonably-satisfying-you-must/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reasonably-satisfying-you-must/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/maxwell-maltz-3463_acceptable_to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reas_912202.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To really 'live,' that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have an adequate and realistic…” — Maxwell Maltz", "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": "Maxwell Maltz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To really 'live,' that is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reasonably-satisfying-you-must/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/to-really-live-that-is-to-find-life-reasonably-satisfying-you-must/#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 } } ] } ```