--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we can accept whatever hand we've been…" description: "\"If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.\" — Phil Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png" --- # If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no… ![“If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.” quote by Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png) > “If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.” [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting difficult circumstances clarifies the path forward. **In simple terms:** Accept reality, find clarity. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to discover direction. Themes acceptance clarity resilience Mood reflective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team building - conflict resolution - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts psychology leadership strategy Questions to Reflect On - What difficult situation can you accept now? - How does acceptance change your options? A Different Perspective Denial can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-hand-3492986/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Dealt Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dealt-matter-3492988/) [Eventually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eventually/) [Eventually Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eventually-clear-3492987/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Proceed Eventually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceed-eventually-3492989/) [Unwelcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwelcome/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“It ain't the blows we're dealt that matter, but the ones we survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-ain-t-the-blows-we-re-dealt-that-matter-but-the-ones-we-survive/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The plain unwelcome fact is that sometimes life stymies you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-chambers/the-plain-unwelcome-fact-is-that-sometimes-life-stymies-you/) [Aidan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-chambers/) > [“Unbidden, Unwelcome, Yet unable to resist, I entered a stranger's life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/unbidden-unwelcome-yet-unable-to-resist-i-entered-a-stranger-s-life/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“I strive to climb mountains, forge streams and oceans to find the unwelcome silence that mocks my existence; I must aim higher... ~VA”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-alison/i-strive-to-climb-mountains-forge-streams-and-oceans-to-find-the/) [virginia Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-alison/) > [“Forever Beautiful, Forever Mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-griffo/forever-beautiful-forever-mine/) [Michael Griffo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-griffo/) > [The history of science should not be an instrument to defend any kind of social or philosophic theory; it should be used only for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sarton/the-history-of-science-should-not-be-an-instrument-to-defend-any-kind/) [George Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sarton/) > [Anger is generally seen as an unwelcome presence in our midst, however natural it may be. Although each person, and each society, is charged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hollis/anger-is-generally-seen-as-an-unwelcome-presence-in-our-midst-however/) [James Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hollis/) > [Economic medicine that was previously meted out by the cupful has recently been dispensed by the barrel. These once unthinkable dosages will almost certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/economic-medicine-that-was-previously-meted-out-by-the-cupful-has/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was unwelcome in the U.S. for four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-was-unwelcome-in-the-u-s-for-four-years/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [The only way to deal with loss - as a horribly unwelcome guest that you know will show up eventually. And so you deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/the-only-way-to-deal-with-loss-as-a-horribly-unwelcome-guest-that-you/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The computer can help us find what we know is there. But the book remains our symbol and our resource for the unimagined question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-computer-can-help-us-find-what-we-know-is-there-but-the-book/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [You go into a room and you know where you're welcome; you know where you're unwelcome.Sometimes in a hostile situation you stick around because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/you-go-into-a-room-and-you-know-where-you-re-welcome-you-know-where/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [There has been a lot of self-doubt and unwelcome events in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/there-has-been-a-lot-of-self-doubt-and-unwelcome-events-in-my-life/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Despite all the gains for democracy in the world, in many countries anyone who wants to publish truths unwelcome to the government risks suppression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/despite-all-the-gains-for-democracy-in-the-world-in-many-countries/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) ## More by Phil Jackson > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“The unconscious mind is a terrific solver of complex problems when the conscious mind is busy elsewhere or, perhaps better yet, not overtaxed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/the-unconscious-mind-is-a-terrific-solver-of-complex-problems-when/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [There's a term, agape, you hear used a lot with charismatic religious groups, that it's this more pure love of caring, of sharing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/there-s-a-term-agape-you-hear-used-a-lot-with-charismatic-religious/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“My confidence grew out of knowing that when the spirit was right and the players were attuned to one another, the game was likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-confidence-grew-out-of-knowing-that-when-the-spirit-was-right-and/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I don't believe in curfews, because you can't treat men like they were boys without forfeiting a certain level of trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/i-don-t-believe-in-curfews-because-you-can-t-treat-men-like-they-were/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [My philosophy is that you can't motivate players with speeches, you have motivated players that you draft. That's where they come in and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-philosophy-is-that-you-can-t-motivate-players-with-speeches-you/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [My philosophy is that you don't motivate players with speeches; you have motivated players that you draft. That's where they come in, and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-philosophy-is-that-you-don-t-motivate-players-with-speeches-you/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Leadership is not about forcing your will on others. It's about mastering the art of letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/leadership-is-not-about-forcing-your-will-on-others-it-s-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“As a leader your job is to do everything in your power to create the perfect conditions for success by benching your ego and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/as-a-leader-your-job-is-to-do-everything-in-your-power-to-create-the/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [A coach's main job is to reawaken a spirit in which the players can blend together effortlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/a-coach-s-main-job-is-to-reawaken-a-spirit-in-which-the-players-can/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“Zen teacher Lewis Richmond tells the story of hearing Shunryu Suzuki sum up Buddhism in two words. Suzuki had just finished giving a talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/zen-teacher-lewis-richmond-tells-the-story-of-hearing-shunryu-suzuki/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [My mother's families were Mennonites or Anabaptists that came to Minnesota from Russia. They were actually moving around Europe doing diking and lowland reclamation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-mother-s-families-were-mennonites-or-anabaptists-that-came-to/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [The real value in everything you do is in the details. I just like that quote. A very similar way to say the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/the-real-value-in-everything-you-do-is-in-the-details-i-just-like/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Coaching is about, "How do I get people to play at their peak level?" It is a spiritual quest. And if it's not that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/coaching-is-about-how-do-i-get-people-to-play-at-their-peak-level-it/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I'm not going to coach again. I've done my coaching, and I think I can put that aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/i-m-not-going-to-coach-again-i-ve-done-my-coaching-and-i-think-i-can/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) [Explore all 110 Phil Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phil Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/phil-jackson-4484_accepting_if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-bee_386248.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually…” — Phil Jackson", "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": "Phil Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we can accept whatever hand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/#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 } } ] } ```