--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you deny the fact that things are…" description: "\"If you deny the fact that things are happening to you, that this is going on, whether it's negative or positive, you're just putting yourself behind th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg" --- # If you deny the fact that things are happening to you… ![“If you deny the fact that things are happening to you, that this is going on, whether it's negative or positive, you're just putting yourself behind the 8-ball because you're not facing it head on and dealing with it in a positive way that you've learned how to.” quote by Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg) > “If you deny the fact that things are happening to you, that this is going on, whether it's negative or positive, you're just putting yourself behind the 8-ball because you're not facing it head on and dealing with it in a positive way that you've learned how to.” [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding reality puts you at a disadvantage; confronting facts lets you act positively. **In simple terms:** Facing facts helps you act. Key Takeaway Confront reality directly. Themes accountability self‑awareness growth Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - financial setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts psychology decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you avoiding? - How can you turn a negative into a positive? A Different Perspective Denial can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-way/) ## Related quotes > [I can't deny the fact that you like me! You like me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-can-t-deny-the-fact-that-you-like-me-you-like-me/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I think part of being in the public eye is getting recognized and dealing with positive and negative scrutiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/i-think-part-of-being-in-the-public-eye-is-getting-recognized-and/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [“I deny the fact that when I kill time, time is actually killing me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gamalinda/i-deny-the-fact-that-when-i-kill-time-time-is-actually-killing-me/) [Eric Gamalinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gamalinda/) > [No matter how much we deny it, the fact remains that we have a male-dominated society as well as industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asin/no-matter-how-much-we-deny-it-the-fact-remains-that-we-have-a-male/) [Asin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asin/) > [I see a sea of millions of people going down with their own negative thoughts, going down for the third time in this big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/i-see-a-sea-of-millions-of-people-going-down-with-their-own-negative/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [Going back into the negative past to find happiness is like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-banks/going-back-into-the-negative-past-to-find-happiness-is-like-trying-to/) [Sydney Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-banks/) > [If you're running around with a negative attitude all the time, you're going to feel down, you're going to have negative results. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sager/if-you-re-running-around-with-a-negative-attitude-all-the-time-you-re/) [Craig Sager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sager/) > [When I was a kid, I was in all 'The Mighty Ducks' movies, and that sort of created this weird thing when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elden-henson/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-in-all-the-mighty-ducks-movies-and-that-sort/) [Elden Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elden-henson/) > [I guess you've just got to take it because there is always going to be negative criticism and positive. But I think both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-shaw/i-guess-you-ve-just-got-to-take-it-because-there-is-always-going-to/) [Luke Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-shaw/) > [If we are negative by nature, we Americans are more human than most. The Founding Fathers loved going negative. Heck, the Declaration of Independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/if-we-are-negative-by-nature-we-americans-are-more-human-than-most/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [People are always going to be negative when they mention my name, but I can accept that and that's what makes it easier for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/people-are-always-going-to-be-negative-when-they-mention-my-name-but/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I'm African-American. There are more eyes on me than anybody. They're going to take the negative before the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/i-m-african-american-there-are-more-eyes-on-me-than-anybody-they-re/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [No matter what you do, people are always going to have something negative to say about it. You could spend your life constantly trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-mongeau/no-matter-what-you-do-people-are-always-going-to-have-something/) [Tana Mongeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-mongeau/) > [I am absolutely against positive thinking. You will be surprised that if you don't choose, if you remain in a choiceless awareness, your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-am-absolutely-against-positive-thinking-you-will-be-surprised-that/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Of course when you voice your opinions, there are going to be negative things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/of-course-when-you-voice-your-opinions-there-are-going-to-be-negative/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) ## More by Ryan Leaf > [I was a talented egomaniac with a self-esteem problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-was-a-talented-egomaniac-with-a-self-esteem-problem/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I mean, Mike Riley is an idiot, but I can't do anything to change that. He wasn't supposed to be a head coach in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-mean-mike-riley-is-an-idiot-but-i-can-t-do-anything-to-change-that/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I don't judge anybody until I meet them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-don-t-judge-anybody-until-i-meet-them/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [The farther I go East in the U.S. the more I get recognized because of more sports crazy the East Coast is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/the-farther-i-go-east-in-the-u-s-the-more-i-get-recognized-because-of/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [When I enjoyed football the most was when I wasn't getting paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/when-i-enjoyed-football-the-most-was-when-i-wasn-t-getting-paid/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I'm actually pretty reserved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-m-actually-pretty-reserved/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I had always been a quick healer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-had-always-been-a-quick-healer/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I had many orthopedic surgeries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-had-many-orthopedic-surgeries/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I was always worried about what others were thinking about me or how I was being perceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-was-always-worried-about-what-others-were-thinking-about-me-or-how/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I had this giant ego of an athlete, but I was self-conscious at everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-had-this-giant-ego-of-an-athlete-but-i-was-self-conscious-at/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I don't care if I go 2 for 40. If we win, it doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-don-t-care-if-i-go-2-for-40-if-we-win-it-doesn-t-matter/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I do follow the NFL. It took me a while to get back into it, but I do follow it religiously now. Huge Packers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-do-follow-the-nfl-it-took-me-a-while-to-get-back-into-it-but-i-do/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I don't know if I was ever meant to have that flashy lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-don-t-know-if-i-was-ever-meant-to-have-that-flashy-lifestyle/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [You don't want to say the money changes you, but it definitely does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/you-don-t-want-to-say-the-money-changes-you-but-it-definitely-does/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [People hold me accountable. Before I would push people away, but that's not a way to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/people-hold-me-accountable-before-i-would-push-people-away-but-that-s/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) [Explore all 95 Ryan Leaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) ## More Deny quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/one-cannot-deny-the-humanity-of-another-without-diminishing-one-s-own/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Not to fear a person with power--to profess, instead, one's love--is to deny that that person has power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/not-to-fear-a-person-with-power-to-profess-instead-one-s-love-is-to/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Our life is half natural and half technological. Half-and-half is good. You cannot deny that high-tech is progress. We need it for jobs. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nam-june-paik/our-life-is-half-natural-and-half-technological-half-and-half-is-good/) [Nam June Paik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nam-june-paik/) > [Whether you face reality head on and make a life change, or deny your responsibility, you've made a choice. The way I see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-phillips/whether-you-face-reality-head-on-and-make-a-life-change-or-deny-your/) [Shawn Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-phillips/) > [“I've tried to deny it even to myself... My heart and soul are filled with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-thacker/i-ve-tried-to-deny-it-even-to-myself-my-heart-and-soul-are-filled/) [Shelly Thacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-thacker/) > [“Just because you deny facts and science doesn't mean they aren't true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-corn/just-because-you-deny-facts-and-science-doesn-t-mean-they-aren-t-true/) [Johnny Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-corn/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Peace in the struggle to find peace.. comfort on the way to comfort. And if I shed a tear I won't cage it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/peace-in-the-struggle-to-find-peace-comfort-on-the-way-to-comfort-and/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [I'm saying that the domain of poetry includes both oral & written forms, that poetry goes back to a pre-literate situation & would survive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-rothenberg/i-m-saying-that-the-domain-of-poetry-includes-both-oral-written-forms/) Jerome Rothenberg > [It is the night-black Massachusetts legendry which packs the really macabre "kick". Here is material for a really profound study in group-neuroticism; for certainly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/it-is-the-night-black-massachusetts-legendry-which-packs-the-really/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Something very unique about Germany is that once you are suspected or accused of having worked for the Stassi, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-schwochow/something-very-unique-about-germany-is-that-once-you-are-suspected-or/) [Christian Schwochow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-schwochow/) Browse all 2,237 Deny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you deny the fact that things are happening to you, that this is going on, whether it's negative or positive, you're just putting yourself behind the 8-ball because you're not facing it head on and dealing with it in a positive way that you've learned how to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Leaf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-happening-to-you-that-this-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-happening-to-you-that-this-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/ryan-leaf-6956_deny_if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-hap_501904.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you deny the fact that things are happening to you, that this is going on, whether it's negative or…” — Ryan Leaf", "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 Leaf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you deny the fact that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-happening-to-you-that-this-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/if-you-deny-the-fact-that-things-are-happening-to-you-that-this-is/#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 } } ] } ```