--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've learned from my time in this sport…" description: "\"I've learned from my time in this sport that you only worry about the things you can control.\" — Ryan Bader" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg" --- # I've learned from my time in this sport that you only… ![“I've learned from my time in this sport that you only worry about the things you can control.” quote by Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg) > “I've learned from my time in this sport that you only worry about the things you can control.” [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus only on controllable aspects in sport. **In simple terms:** Control what you can, ignore the rest. Key Takeaway Prioritize controllable factors. Themes focus control sports psychology performance mindset Mood motivational steady Type sports psychological When to use this quote - training sessions - competition preparation - mental conditioning Key Concepts psychology coaching self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - What uncontrollable factors do you prepare for? - How do you stay adaptable under pressure? A Different Perspective Uncontrollable events still affect outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Sport Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sport-worry-6145511/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-control/) [Things you can control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-you-can-control/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-things/) ## Related quotes > [Don't worry about things you can't control, work on the things you can control and move on there more things you can handle just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rayshawn/don-t-worry-about-things-you-can-t-control-work-on-the-things-you-can/) [Adrian Rayshawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rayshawn/) > [Worry about the things you can control; the rest will either work themselves out, or they'll kill you. Either way, no more worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/worry-about-the-things-you-can-control-the-rest-will-either-work/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [As cliche as it sounds, I've always told myself, 'Don't worry about the things you can't control. Control the things you can control.' That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-baldwin/as-cliche-as-it-sounds-i-ve-always-told-myself-don-t-worry-about-the/) [Doug Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-baldwin/) > [Only worry about things that are within your control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/only-worry-about-things-that-are-within-your-control/) [Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/) > [Control the things you can control. As for the rest - God bless it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/control-the-things-you-can-control-as-for-the-rest-god-bless-it-all/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Control the things you can control .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-stosur/control-the-things-you-can-control/) [Samantha Stosur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-stosur/) > [There's only certain things you can control. I know how hard I work, I know how I take care of myself, and those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lester/there-s-only-certain-things-you-can-control-i-know-how-hard-i-work-i/) [Jon Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lester/) > [In football, you only work for the things you can control. You cannot control the outside world: you can only control your preparation; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/in-football-you-only-work-for-the-things-you-can-control-you-cannot/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [In this business, you have so little control over things, but one of the things you can control is who you work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/in-this-business-you-have-so-little-control-over-things-but-one-of/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [“Control the things you can control, maggot. Let everything else take a flying fuck at you and if you must go down, go down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/control-the-things-you-can-control-maggot-let-everything-else-take-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I learned early on that there are certain things you can control in the press, and things you cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-learned-early-on-that-there-are-certain-things-you-can-control-in/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [Invest your energy in the things you can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backley/invest-your-energy-in-the-things-you-can-control/) [Steve Backley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-backley/) > [“Best not to worry about things over which we have no control.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/best-not-to-worry-about-things-over-which-we-have-no-control/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [I worry about the things I can control, which is the collective awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodri/i-worry-about-the-things-i-can-control-which-is-the-collective-awards/) [Rodri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodri/) > [I'll worry about things I can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/i-ll-worry-about-things-i-can-control/) [Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/) ## More by Ryan Bader > [I felt like I deserved a title shot a few times in the UFC and was kind of passed over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-felt-like-i-deserved-a-title-shot-a-few-times-in-the-ufc-and-was/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [Coming over to Bellator, it was a great decision. I came over and had the opportunity to fight for the light heavyweight title right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/coming-over-to-bellator-it-was-a-great-decision-i-came-over-and-had/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [We get stereotyped as MMA fighters as being barbarian and trying to hurt people. A lot of us are college-educated, like myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/we-get-stereotyped-as-mma-fighters-as-being-barbarian-and-trying-to/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [The men and women in the United States Military allow me to live my dream, and I want to continue to do everything I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/the-men-and-women-in-the-united-states-military-allow-me-to-live-my/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I got to a point I was so focused on getting a title shot all the thought in my head was to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-got-to-a-point-i-was-so-focused-on-getting-a-title-shot-all-the/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [Winning is everything to us, but at the same time you've gotta have exciting fights and keep pushing it in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/winning-is-everything-to-us-but-at-the-same-time-you-ve-gotta-have/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [The lowest I've ever made - and this was on the prelims - was 35 grand on a fight. I've made upwards of 80…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/the-lowest-i-ve-ever-made-and-this-was-on-the-prelims-was-35-grand-on/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I treat it just like a workday. When I'm training, I'm training. When I'm not, I'm not. And when I'm not in fight prep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-treat-it-just-like-a-workday-when-i-m-training-i-m-training-when-i/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I've got to work on my defense and my movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-got-to-work-on-my-defense-and-my-movement/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I'm not in the UFC to be mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-m-not-in-the-ufc-to-be-mediocre/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [My whole style of wrestling is I like to use the truck double. It's basically a tackle for MMA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/my-whole-style-of-wrestling-is-i-like-to-use-the-truck-double-it-s/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [Some people say I miss a lot of shots, but I'm not missing them, that's how I set them up. I'm not in danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/some-people-say-i-miss-a-lot-of-shots-but-i-m-not-missing-them-that-s/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I had a great contract coming out of the UFC into Bellator, but it was that second contract that made me really, really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-had-a-great-contract-coming-out-of-the-ufc-into-bellator-but-it-was/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I believe I'm one fight away at all times from getting a title shot and being up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-believe-i-m-one-fight-away-at-all-times-from-getting-a-title-shot/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I don't put Jardine on a pedestal or worry about any kind of step-up. He's just another fighter standing in the way of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-don-t-put-jardine-on-a-pedestal-or-worry-about-any-kind-of-step-up/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) [Explore all 98 Ryan Bader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) [Thomas Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-miller/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've learned from my time in this sport that you only worry about the things you can control.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Bader" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport-that-you-only-worry-about-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport-that-you-only-worry-about-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/ryan-bader-6598_control_i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport_2424286.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've learned from my time in this sport that you only worry about the things you can control.” — Ryan Bader", "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": "Ryan Bader", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've learned from my time in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport-that-you-only-worry-about-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport-that-you-only-worry-about-the/#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 } } ] } ```