--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conscious choice is creative. Unconscious…" description: "\"Conscious choice is creative. Unconscious choice is destructive. That is how we end up living other people's lives.\" — Sarah Ban Breathnach" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/sarah-ban-breathnach-833_choice_conscious-choice-is-creative-unconscious_3207292.png" --- # Conscious choice is creative. Unconscious choice is… ![“Conscious choice is creative. Unconscious choice is destructive. That is how we end up living other people's lives.” quote by Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/sarah-ban-breathnach-833_choice_conscious-choice-is-creative-unconscious_3207292.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/sarah-ban-breathnach-833_choice_conscious-choice-is-creative-unconscious_3207292.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/sarah-ban-breathnach-833_choice_conscious-choice-is-creative-unconscious_3207292.png) > “Conscious choice is creative. Unconscious choice is destructive. That is how we end up living other people's lives.” [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conscious decisions foster creativity, while unconscious habits lead to living according to others' expectations, causing self‑destruction. **In simple terms:** Awareness creates creativity; unawareness leads to conformity. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindfulness in choices. Themes self‑awareness creativity autonomy personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type self‑help philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship decisions - daily habit formation - creative projects - personal coaching Key Concepts mindfulness psychology of habit creative process existential choice Questions to Reflect On - Which daily habit limits your creativity? - How can you become more conscious of your choices? A Different Perspective Changing deep habits is challenging and may require support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [From the living fountain of instinct flows everything that is creative; hence the unconscious is not merely conditioned by history, but is the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/from-the-living-fountain-of-instinct-flows-everything-that-is/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“Anyone who does creative work is familiar with this problem, and in many ways active imagination is similar to writing, painting, and so on;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-valentine-lachman/anyone-who-does-creative-work-is-familiar-with-this-problem-and-in/) [Gary Valentine Lachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-valentine-lachman/) > [You've got to make a conscious choice every day to shed the old - whatever "the old" means for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/you-ve-got-to-make-a-conscious-choice-every-day-to-shed-the-old/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [Become very conscious of every choice you make today so you can begin to make smarter choices moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/become-very-conscious-of-every-choice-you-make-today-so-you-can-begin/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [Nothing is a conscious choice as an actor at the begining stage. There's so little that's a conscious choice even now. The offers, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-grunberg/nothing-is-a-conscious-choice-as-an-actor-at-the-begining-stage-there/) [Greg Grunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-grunberg/) > [The unconscious can become destructive if it is disregarded and thwarted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-unconscious-can-become-destructive-if-it-is-disregarded-and/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I made a conscious choice to turn down some movies that were action-based, so that I could direct Road to Paloma and show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-made-a-conscious-choice-to-turn-down-some-movies-that-were-action/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [Every actor wants to show a good and deep range, so you look at all the elements here, and you make a conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-keoghan/every-actor-wants-to-show-a-good-and-deep-range-so-you-look-at-all/) [Barry Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-keoghan/) > [“Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heatherash-amara/change-is-inevitable-but-transformation-is-by-conscious-choice/) [HeatherAsh Amara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heatherash-amara/) > [Whenever a person is ignoring me, what they're actually doing is making a conscious choice to communicate that I'm not important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-a-person-is-ignoring-me-what-they-re-actually-doing-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your mind is open to opposing ideas, your intelligence will go up. 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We usually don't think of it that way, but belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-birth-of-excellence-begins-with-our-awareness-that-our-beliefs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Human agency, the ability to affect the surrounding world, may be a result not so simply of conscious choice - but instead a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wikipedia/human-agency-the-ability-to-affect-the-surrounding-world-may-be-a/) [Wikipedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wikipedia/) > [By becoming a conscious choice-maker, you begin to generate actions that are evolutionary for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-becoming-a-conscious-choice-maker-you-begin-to-generate-actions/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If you find yourself saying things like, "I'm hitting the age where I'll need reading glasses," "I'm too old to try yoga (or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-find-yourself-saying-things-like-i-m-hitting-the-age-where-i/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More by Sarah Ban Breathnach > [The greatest secret to living a happy, fulfilled life is the realization that everything is created in our minds before it manifests itself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/the-greatest-secret-to-living-a-happy-fulfilled-life-is-the/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [I learned a priceless lesson and one that everyone can use today - it's never the amount of money we have or haven't; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/i-learned-a-priceless-lesson-and-one-that-everyone-can-use-today-it-s/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Always remember that striving and struggling precede success, even in the dictionary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/always-remember-that-striving-and-struggling-precede-success-even-in/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [ “The thirst after happiness is never extinguished in the heart of \[woman\]. —JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/the-thirst-after-happiness-is-never-extinguished-in-the-heart-of/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [Every time we remember to say "thank you", we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/every-time-we-remember-to-say-thank-you-we-experience-nothing-less/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [...start thinking of yourself as an artist and your life as a work-in-progress. Works-in-progress are never perfect. But changes can be made...Art evolves. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/start-thinking-of-yourself-as-an-artist-and-your-life-as-a-work-in/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us. —WINSTON CHURCHILL The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/we-shape-our-dwellings-and-afterwards-our-dwellings-shape-us-winston/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“start thinking of yourself as an artist and your life as a work-in-progress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/start-thinking-of-yourself-as-an-artist-and-your-life-as-a-work-in-2/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment we feel when the melody of life is in tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/harmony-is-the-inner-cadence-of-contentment-we-feel-when-the-melody/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Realize the past no longer holds you captive. It can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/realize-the-past-no-longer-holds-you-captive-it-can-only-continue-to/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Beguile us in the way you know,” poet Robert Frost”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/beguile-us-in-the-way-you-know-poet-robert-frost/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line,” Lucille Ball advised. “You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/love-yourself-first-and-everything-else-falls-into-line-lucille-ball/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [Once you accept and rejoice in your authenticity, you begin to see things as YOU are. You begin to see the authentic self is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/once-you-accept-and-rejoice-in-your-authenticity-you-begin-to-see/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Out of clutter, find simplicity. —ALBERT EINSTEIN After”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/out-of-clutter-find-simplicity-albert-einstein-after/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [Today you may not be familiar with the happiness habit. But like any new behavior, happiness can be learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/today-you-may-not-be-familiar-with-the-happiness-habit-but-like-any/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) [Explore all 357 Sarah Ban Breathnach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conscious choice is creative. 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