Dysfunctional family Quote by Rhonda Byrne
““A lot of people feel like they’re victims in life, and they’ll often point to past events, perhaps growing up with an abusive parent or in a dysfunctional family. Most psychologists believe that about 85 percent of families are dysfunctional, so all of a sudden you’re not so unique. My parents were alcoholics. My dad abused me. My mother divorced him when I was six…I mean, that’s almost everybody’s story in some form or not. The real question is, what are you going to do now? What do you choose now? Because you can either keep focusing on that, or you can focus on what you want. And when people start focusing on what they want, what they don’t want falls away, and what they want expands, and the other part disappears. (Jack Canfield)””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Motivational Talk, Jack Canfield, 2005
The quote urges shifting focus from past trauma to present goals, suggesting that concentrating on desires reduces negative thoughts and expands possibilities.
In simple terms: Focus on what you want, not past pain.
Key Takeaway
Choose to act on your goals now.
Themes
self‑empowerment
focus
growth
resilience
choice
Mood
determined
hopeful
reflective
Type
motivational
inspirational
self‑help
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- career planning
- personal development
- relationship counseling
Key Concepts
psychology
mindset
goal‑setting
behavioral change
Questions to Reflect On
- What goal will you pursue today?
- How can you balance acknowledging past with forward focus?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on past may ignore systemic issues and can oversimplify healing.
![“People think that if [their abusive] parent apologizes, he'll turn into the person they needed him to be. He won't. An apology might help, but you can change your life without one.” quote by Robin Quivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/688/robin-quivers-23263_abusive_people-think-that-if-their-abusive-paren_496171.jpg)
