--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are times in my life when I have…" description: "\"“There are times in my life when I have been medicine for some while poison for others. I used to think I was a victim of my story until I realized the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/steve-maraboli-178_choices_there-are-times-in-my-life-when-i-have-b_971989.jpg" --- # There are times in my life when I have been medicine for… ![“There are times in my life when I have been medicine for some while poison for others. I used to think I was a victim of my story until I realized the truth; that I am the creator of my story. I choose what type of person I will be and what type of impact I will leave on others. I will never…” quote by Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/steve-maraboli-178_choices_there-are-times-in-my-life-when-i-have-b_971989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/steve-maraboli-178_choices_there-are-times-in-my-life-when-i-have-b_971989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/steve-maraboli-178_choices_there-are-times-in-my-life-when-i-have-b_971989.jpg) > ““There are times in my life when I have been medicine for some while poison for others. I used to think I was a victim of my story until I realized the truth; that I am the creator of my story. I choose what type of person I will be and what type of impact I will leave on others. I will never choose the destructive path of self and outward victimization again.”” [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author describes shifting from feeling victimized to recognizing personal agency, choosing constructive actions over self‑destructive victimhood. **In simple terms:** I stopped seeing myself as a victim and chose to create my own story. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your narrative. Themes self‑empowerment victimhood choice Mood determined hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - overcoming trauma - career decisions - relationship choices Key Concepts personal agency mindset shift impact creation Questions to Reflect On - What stories do you still see yourself as a victim in? - What concrete steps will you take to shape your impact? A Different Perspective Changing mindset can be difficult without support or resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-story/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Victim mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim-mentality/) ## Related quotes > [A villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-villain-is-just-a-victim-whose-story-hasn-t-been-told/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It may be doubtful, at first, whether a person is an enemy or friend. Meat, if not properly digested, becomes poison; But poison, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-be-doubtful-at-first-whether-a-person-is-an-enemy-or-friend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never told a victim story about my imprisonment. Instead, I told a transformation story - about how prison changed my outlook, about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-flores/i-never-told-a-victim-story-about-my-imprisonment-instead-i-told-a/) [Fernando Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-flores/) > [A potent poison becomes the best drug on proper administration. On the contrary, even the best drug becomes a potent poison if used badly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charaka/a-potent-poison-becomes-the-best-drug-on-proper-administration-on-the/) Charaka > [“A villain is a victim who's story hasn't been told." - The Evil Queen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer-the-land-of-stories/a-villain-is-a-victim-who-s-story-hasn-t-been-told-the-evil-queen/) [Chris Colfer The Land of Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer-the-land-of-stories/) > [ “\[According to 1348 theorists, poisoning of Christian water by Jews was the cause of Black Death.\] Even the poison used to contaminate the Christian… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kelly/according-to-1348-theorists-poisoning-of-christian-water-by-jews-was/) John Kelly > [“It is not uncommon for someone to be a self-saboteur and compound that by also having a victim mentality. It is as though they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-is-not-uncommon-for-someone-to-be-a-self-saboteur-and-compound/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Why Not You? Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you? Today, many will open their eyes to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/why-not-you-today-many-will-awaken-with-a-fresh-sense-of-inspiration/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Your complaints, your drama, your victim mentality, your whining, your blaming, and all of your excuses have NEVER gotten you even a single step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/your-complaints-your-drama-your-victim-mentality-your-whining-your/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Stop validating your victim mentality. Shake off your self-defeating drama and embrace your innate ability to recover and achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/stop-validating-your-victim-mentality-shake-off-your-self-defeating/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Today is a new day. Don't let your history interfere with your destiny! Let today be the day you stop being a victim of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/today-is-a-new-day-don-t-let-your-history-interfere-with-your-destiny-2/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [How would your life be different if¦You stopped validating your victim mentality? Let today be the day¦You shake off your self-defeating drama and embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-stopped-validating-your/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“The only way you can own this moment is to evict the victim mentality from the dwelling of your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-only-way-you-can-own-this-moment-is-to-evict-the-victim-mentality/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“The problem that we have with a victim mentality is that we forget to see the blessings of the day. Because of this, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-problem-that-we-have-with-a-victim-mentality-is-that-we-forget-to/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“You think I’m the victim here, but I’m not. As much as you might wish it, I’m not the damsel in distress in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-johnson/you-think-i-m-the-victim-here-but-i-m-not-as-much-as-you-might-wish/) [Julie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-johnson/) ## More by Steve Maraboli > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. This is the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/fear-has-the-role-we-give-it-we-are-able-to-empower-or-poison/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“There is no greater force for change than people inspired to live a better life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/there-is-no-greater-force-for-change-than-people-inspired-to-live-a/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“If the things behind you are tripping you, you're moving in the wrong direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-the-things-behind-you-are-tripping-you-you-re-moving-in-the-wrong/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“We need more than just the Law of Attraction. We need to connect with its more successful twin, the Law of Generosity. 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Let today be the day...You embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-could-control-the-outcome-of/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“If you want drama, settle for the one who will change your relationship status. If you want love, wait for the one who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-want-drama-settle-for-the-one-who-will-change-your/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“The time has come to harness the blessed power within us and to use it to transcend from our current existence into a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-time-has-come-to-harness-the-blessed-power-within-us-and-to-use/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [You cant fully enjoy THESE moments until you let go of past moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-cant-fully-enjoy-these-moments-until-you-let-go-of-past-moments/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself. It is in this relationship that you set the standard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-most-powerful-relationship-you-will-ever-have-is-the-relationship/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Walk away from gossip and verbal defamation. Speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/walk-away-from-gossip-and-verbal-defamation-speak-only-the-good-you/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Even though she would dream of love, respect, and unfettered romance... it was a cyclical dilemma in her life that she seemed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/even-though-she-would-dream-of-love-respect-and-unfettered-romance-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) [Explore all 990 Steve Maraboli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are times in my life when I have been medicine for some while poison for others. 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