--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I really want to improve my situation…" description: "\"If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control-myself. I can stop trying to shape up my wife and can w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/stephen-covey-339_control-myself_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_803061.jpg" --- # If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on… ![“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control-myself. I can stop trying to shape up my wife and can work on my own weaknesses. I can focus an being a great marriage partner, a source of unconditional love and support. Hopefully, my wife will feel…” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/stephen-covey-339_control-myself_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_803061.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/stephen-covey-339_control-myself_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_803061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/stephen-covey-339_control-myself_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_803061.jpg) > “If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control-myself. I can stop trying to shape up my wife and can work on my own weaknesses. I can focus an being a great marriage partner, a source of unconditional love and support. Hopefully, my wife will feel the power of proactive example and respond in kind. But, whether she does or doesn't, the most positive way I can influence my situation is to work on myself, on my being.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improving oneself is the most reliable way to positively affect personal relationships and circumstances. **In simple terms:** Focus on self-improvement to influence life. Key Takeaway Work on yourself first. Themes self-improvement relationships personal responsibility Mood reflective hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - marriage - career development - health habits - conflict resolution Key Concepts proactivity self-awareness emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What personal habit could you change today? - How does your behavior shape your relationships? A Different Perspective Changing others directly is limited; self-change may not guarantee others' response. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Great marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-marriage/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love and support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-support/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Unconditional love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconditional-love/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Work On Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-on-myself/) ## Related quotes > [“There’s always one more thing you can do to influence any situation in your favor—and after that one more thing, and after that…. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-g-moore/there-s-always-one-more-thing-you-can-do-to-influence-any-situation/) [Harold G. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-g-moore/) > [If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation-i-can-work-on-the-one-thing-2/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“I am a jealous husband wife, and I feel your pain. All of it, for all of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-a-jealous-husband-wife-and-i-feel-your-pain-all-of-it-for-all-of/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Men, you have to always remember that you have to make your girlfriend or wife feel sexy. Make her feel special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/men-you-have-to-always-remember-that-you-have-to-make-your-girlfriend/) Enhance Dreams > [I'm pretty intimidating looking so I feel sorry for a little girl trying to bring boys home. Between my very headstrong wife and myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-hart/i-m-pretty-intimidating-looking-so-i-feel-sorry-for-a-little-girl/) [Carey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-hart/) > [If you want to improve the situation of the poorest two billion on the planet, having the price of energy go down substantially would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-want-to-improve-the-situation-of-the-poorest-two-billion-on/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [If you know that you are not sure, you have a chance to improve the situation. I want to demand this freedom for future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/if-you-know-that-you-are-not-sure-you-have-a-chance-to-improve-the/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Sometimes I have a notion that what might improve the situation is to have women take over the occupations of government and trade and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/sometimes-i-have-a-notion-that-what-might-improve-the-situation-is-to-2/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Nobody likes being broke. As somebody who's had to live out of a 1982 Datsun, trust me. I know. I also understand that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-crowder/nobody-likes-being-broke-as-somebody-who-s-had-to-live-out-of-a-1982/) [Steven Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-crowder/) > [You can always improve your situation. But you do so by facing it, not by running away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/you-can-always-improve-your-situation-but-you-do-so-by-facing-it-not/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [You must assume 100% responsibility for your financial life. If you're going to improve your situation, you have to put the full burden of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/you-must-assume-100-responsibility-for-your-financial-life-if-you-re/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [The people who could do most to improve the situation of so many women and children are in fact, men,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/the-people-who-could-do-most-to-improve-the-situation-of-so-many/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [Stop comparing where youre at with where everyone else is. It doesn't move you farther ahead, improve your situation, or help you find peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-comparing-where-youre-at-with-where-everyone-else-is-it-doesn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, look at the world around you, and if you notice things that don't seem right - injustices, inefficiencies, or just oddities - investigate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-orzel/so-look-at-the-world-around-you-and-if-you-notice-things-that-don-t/) Chad Orzel > [When it comes down to the song writing, I'm just very slow - very slow. Because the songs are about my life, so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/when-it-comes-down-to-the-song-writing-i-m-just-very-slow-very-slow/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Control myself quotes > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [I can control myself not to see you, I can control myself not to hear you, but I can't control myself not to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-control-myself-not-to-see-you-i-can-control-myself-not-to-hear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In business, I think the most important thing is to position yourself for long-term and not be too impatient, which I am by nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-arnault/in-business-i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-position-yourself/) [Bernard Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-arnault/) > [“Sorry!I just couldn't control myself!" would be the excuse any virile man would offer to a girl he had just deflowered- after the event.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-chong/sorry-i-just-couldn-t-control-myself-would-be-the-excuse-any-virile/) [Nicholas Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-chong/) > [I think people were a little nervous to work with me to start with, because the movies I've done they thought that I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/i-think-people-were-a-little-nervous-to-work-with-me-to-start-with/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [I can't control myself. I wish I could. I've gone to parties, I've gone to games, and I drive home and think, 'God, can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/i-can-t-control-myself-i-wish-i-could-i-ve-gone-to-parties-i-ve-gone/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [Yeah, well, my heart wants to hurt you, but I'm able to control myself! -Susan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desperate-housewives/yeah-well-my-heart-wants-to-hurt-you-but-i-m-able-to-control-myself/) Desperate Housewives > [“You know, it’s dangerous to touch me like that.” He gazed down into my eyes. “You didn’t seem to mind.” “That’s because I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-mullican/you-know-it-s-dangerous-to-touch-me-like-that-he-gazed-down-into-my/) Lynn Mullican > [“You'd better not talk about microscopes anymore," he whispered, "or I don't know if I can control myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/you-d-better-not-talk-about-microscopes-anymore-he-whispered-or-i-don/) [shannon hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Jewelery is my weakness. Whenever I see any jewellery, I am unable to control myself. My daughters or somebody has to cool me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sridevi/jewelery-is-my-weakness-whenever-i-see-any-jewellery-i-am-unable-to/) [Sridevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sridevi/) > [“Stephen rubbed at his face. “Look, I have three choices. I never see you again so I’m not tempted; I give in to temptation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-charles/stephen-rubbed-at-his-face-look-i-have-three-choices-i-never-see-you/) [K.J. Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-charles/) > [I made my share of mistakes. People can look at that as what not to do, and if they choose to make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-made-my-share-of-mistakes-people-can-look-at-that-as-what-not-to-do/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [But if I played well and prepared myself properly, then all I had to do was control myself and put myself in a position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/but-if-i-played-well-and-prepared-myself-properly-then-all-i-had-to/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [“struggle to control myself as her hands slide through my hair, ever so lovingly. Her touch, gentle at first, grows bolder as she continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-middleton/struggle-to-control-myself-as-her-hands-slide-through-my-hair-ever-so/) [K.L. Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-middleton/) > [I can't control myself to fall in love with you. .because f or me,you my everything and you are my all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/i-can-t-control-myself-to-fall-in-love-with-you-because-f-or-me-you/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) Browse all 74 Control myself quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control-myself. I can stop trying to shape up my wife and can work on my own weaknesses. I can focus an being a great marriage partner, a source of unconditional love and support. Hopefully, my wife will feel the power of proactive example and respond in kind. 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