--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Change doesn't happen often, but to a…" description: "\"Change doesn't happen often, but to a certain extent in some way, I think when you get into recovery and you stay there, you change.\" — Shawn Colvin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png" --- # Change doesn't happen often, but to a certain extent in… ![“Change doesn't happen often, but to a certain extent in some way, I think when you get into recovery and you stay there, you change.” quote by Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png) > “Change doesn't happen often, but to a certain extent in some way, I think when you get into recovery and you stay there, you change.” [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recovery is a gradual process; lasting change comes from sustained effort and staying engaged. **In simple terms:** Recovery takes time and consistency. Key Takeaway Stay committed to healing. Themes recovery personal growth change habit formation Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - addiction treatment - mental health therapy - long‑term health - career transitions Key Concepts psychology neuroplasticity self‑care Questions to Reflect On - What habits support your recovery? - How do you maintain change over time? A Different Perspective Change may be limited by external factors or relapse risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-doesn/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay/) [Stay Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-change-736819/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-recovery-2273593/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [When you get into recovery after some addiction you have to relearn a lot of perceptions, attitudes and self-awareness if you want to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/when-you-get-into-recovery-after-some-addiction-you-have-to-relearn-a/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [So the more things stay the same, the more they change after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-the-more-things-stay-the-same-the-more-they-change-after-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't just keep doing what works one time, everything around you is changing. To succeed, stay out in front of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/you-can-t-just-keep-doing-what-works-one-time-everything-around-you/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [There are things in our life that aren't meant to stay. Sometimes, CHANGE may not be what we want. But sometimes , CHANGE is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/there-are-things-in-our-life-that-aren-t-meant-to-stay-sometimes/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Sometimes there are things in life that aren't meant to stay. Sometimes change may not be what we want. Sometimes change is what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-there-are-things-in-life-that-aren-t-meant-to-stay-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes there are things in life that aren't meant to stay. Sometimes change may not be what we want, change is what we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-there-are-things-in-life-that-aren-t-meant-to-stay/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People will ask you to stay and never change. But sometimes. they're the one who act as a reason for you to let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/people-will-ask-you-to-stay-and-never-change-but-sometimes-they-re/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [There are things in life that aren't meant to stay. Sometimes change may not be what we want. Sometimes change is what we](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-things-in-life-that-aren-t-meant-to-stay-sometimes-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m a part of Chaos. We don’t bitch and whine. We change what doesn’t work and keep it moving. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shyla-colt/i-m-a-part-of-chaos-we-don-t-bitch-and-whine-we-change-what-doesn-t/) [Shyla Colt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shyla-colt/) > [“Great change doesn't come with official endorsement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-digh/great-change-doesn-t-come-with-official-endorsement/) [Patti Digh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-digh/) > [Just because I can't change everything, doesn't mean I shouldn't try to change anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcilrath/just-because-i-can-t-change-everything-doesn-t-mean-i-shouldn-t-try/) [Tim McIlrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcilrath/) > [“Change doesn't just happen,” her mother had always said, echoing the Shaker motto. “It has to be planned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/change-doesn-t-just-happen-her-mother-had-always-said-echoing-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [CHANGE doesn't HAPPEN when circumstances IMPROVE. CHANGE HAPPENS when YOU decide to IMPROVE your circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/change-doesn-t-happen-when-circumstances-improve-change-happens-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Persistence. Change doesn't happen overnight. You have to stay with it. Rosa Parks helped start the Civil Rights movement in earnest in 1955. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-sehgal/persistence-change-doesn-t-happen-overnight-you-have-to-stay-with-it/) [Kabir Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-sehgal/) > [... Change doesn't happen overnight-it's molded by people who don't give up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/change-doesn-t-happen-overnight-it-s-molded-by-people-who-don-t-give/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## More by Shawn Colvin > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [It's really fun to listen to other people and be an accompanist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/it-s-really-fun-to-listen-to-other-people-and-be-an-accompanist/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [Physically, I'm healthy as a horse, always held up. But in the mental illness department, I got my share. It's just what I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/physically-i-m-healthy-as-a-horse-always-held-up-but-in-the-mental/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [There were bars that began to have acoustic musicians play, it was 1970: Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, America, The Eagles, all that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/there-were-bars-that-began-to-have-acoustic-musicians-play-it-was/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I always wanted to be a songwriter, and it took a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-songwriter-and-it-took-a-while/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [You say in life, mistakes are many. How come you never admit to any?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/you-say-in-life-mistakes-are-many-how-come-you-never-admit-to-any/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I was a cover artist for years. I didn't start writing songs until I was in my mid-twenties. I wrote them with John Leventhal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-was-a-cover-artist-for-years-i-didn-t-start-writing-songs-until-i/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I can perform easily; I don't mind getting up in front of people at all. I've always sung and felt confident about that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-can-perform-easily-i-don-t-mind-getting-up-in-front-of-people-at/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I don't support Trump. We'll put that right out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-don-t-support-trump-we-ll-put-that-right-out-there/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I'm not a go-out-with-a-band artist. I'm an intimate, storytelling folk artist. It guides the writing and makes for a concert that I'm proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-m-not-a-go-out-with-a-band-artist-i-m-an-intimate-storytelling-folk/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [This world's a blessing and a beast everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/this-world-s-a-blessing-and-a-beast-everyday/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I consider myself as a singer first, but something that really helped me come into my own is that there's not a separation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-consider-myself-as-a-singer-first-but-something-that-really-helped/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [The past is stronger than my will to forgive forgive you, or myself, I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/the-past-is-stronger-than-my-will-to-forgive-forgive-you-or-myself-i/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I wasn't creative when I was depressed. When my depression got treated, I was creative again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-wasn-t-creative-when-i-was-depressed-when-my-depression-got-treated/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I've had a prolonged adolescence, like a lot of my generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-ve-had-a-prolonged-adolescence-like-a-lot-of-my-generation/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) [Explore all 46 Shawn Colvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Change doesn't happen often, but to a certain extent in some way, I think when you get into recovery and you stay there, you change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shawn Colvin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-certain-extent-in-some-way-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-certain-extent-in-some-way-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/shawn-colvin-14509_change_change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-cer_2641579.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Change doesn't happen often, but to a certain extent in some way, I think when you get into recovery and you…” — Shawn Colvin", "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": "Shawn Colvin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Change doesn't happen often, but to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-certain-extent-in-some-way-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/change-doesn-t-happen-often-but-to-a-certain-extent-in-some-way-i/#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 } } ] } ```