--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You [I] have control over three things –…" description: "\"“You [I] have control over three things – what you [I] think what you [I] say, and how you [I] behave. To make a change in your [my] life, you [I] must..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/sonya-friedman-110514_change_you-i-have-control-over-three-things-wha_2953186.jpg" --- # You \[I\] have control over three things – what you \[I\]… ![“You [I] have control over three things – what you [I] think what you [I] say, and how you [I] behave. To make a change in your [my] life, you [I] must recognize that these gifts are the most powerful tools you [I] possess in shaping the form of your [my] life.” quote by Sonya Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/sonya-friedman-110514_change_you-i-have-control-over-three-things-wha_2953186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/sonya-friedman-110514_change_you-i-have-control-over-three-things-wha_2953186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/sonya-friedman-110514_change_you-i-have-control-over-three-things-wha_2953186.jpg) > ““You \[I\] have control over three things – what you \[I\] think what you \[I\] say, and how you \[I\] behave. To make a change in your \[my\] life, you \[I\] must recognize that these gifts are the most powerful tools you \[I\] possess in shaping the form of your \[my\] life.”” Sonya Friedman ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control thoughts, speech, and behavior to shape life; recognizing these tools empowers change. **In simple terms:** Thoughts, words, actions shape life. Key Takeaway Use your three tools wisely. Themes self‑empowerment behavior change mindfulness personal agency psychology Mood empowered focused reflective Type Change:1 Change life:1 Power:1 Three things:1 Make Change:1 Control Things:1 Gifts Powerful:1 Possess Shaping:1 When to use this quote - coaching sessions - daily affirmations - behavior tracking - mindful communication - goal setting Key Concepts cognitive control habit formation self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - Which tool feels strongest for you? - How can you practice each tool daily? A Different Perspective Changing habits is hard without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [You have control over three things - what you think, what you say, and how you behave. To make a change in your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-friedman/you-have-control-over-three-things-what-you-think-what-you-say-and/) [Sonia Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-friedman/) > [You only have control over three things in your life - the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-only-have-control-over-three-things-in-your-life-the-thoughts-you-2/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“You only have control over three things in your life—the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take (your behavior).…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-only-have-control-over-three-things-in-your-life-the-thoughts-you/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I did a lot during my lifetime and I think it is time to make a change to my life at a young age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lowy/i-did-a-lot-during-my-lifetime-and-i-think-it-is-time-to-make-a/) [Frank Lowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lowy/) > [Everyone has a ability, and with that ability; you can make a change in life. 8)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dub-tepper/everyone-has-a-ability-and-with-that-ability-you-can-make-a-change-in/) DUB$TEPPER > [I can control most things, but I don't seem to be able to control death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-davis/i-can-control-most-things-but-i-don-t-seem-to-be-able-to-control-death/) [Al Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-davis/) > [Being on stage is the best part of my career. I just say whatever comes into my head. It's the only time I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/being-on-stage-is-the-best-part-of-my-career-i-just-say-whatever/) [Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/) > [It is not possible to control all external events; But, if I simply control my mind what need is there to control other things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/it-is-not-possible-to-control-all-external-events-but-if-i-simply/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [It's hard to control the things that are going to inspire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/it-s-hard-to-control-the-things-that-are-going-to-inspire-you/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [I always liked the idea that you can put something in you onto a canvas or a piece of paper and have it exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-always-liked-the-idea-that-you-can-put-something-in-you-onto-a/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I prefer playing in the studio because you have much more control over things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schenker/i-prefer-playing-in-the-studio-because-you-have-much-more-control/) [Michael Schenker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schenker/) > [“Even though you can't control the things that happen to you, you can control your perspective and your actions. There's never a moment you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-la-cruz/even-though-you-can-t-control-the-things-that-happen-to-you-you-can/) [Melissa de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-la-cruz/) > [“Wisdom, someone said, is about knowing the difference between the things you can control and the things you can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/wisdom-someone-said-is-about-knowing-the-difference-between-the/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [I only want to control the things that prevent me from doing my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/i-only-want-to-control-the-things-that-prevent-me-from-doing-my-job/) [Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/) > [“The more we try to control the things outside of us the more we lose control of our mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-white/the-more-we-try-to-control-the-things-outside-of-us-the-more-we-lose/) Jennifer White ## More by Sonya Friedman > [The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-friedman/the-way-you-treat-yourself-sets-the-standard-for-others/) Sonya Friedman Explore all 2 Sonya Friedman quotes ## 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 > [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": "“You [I] have control over three things – what you [I] think what you [I] say, and how you [I] behave. 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