--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have the ability to choose your…" description: "\"You have the ability to choose your reactions.\" — Steve Maraboli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg" --- # You have the ability to choose your reactions. ![“You have the ability to choose your reactions.” quote by Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg) > “You have the ability to choose your reactions.” [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. We control our emotional responses; choice lies in how we react to events. **In simple terms:** You decide how to respond. Key Takeaway Practice mindful response choices. Themes personal agency emotional intelligence choice Mood reflective empowering Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - conflict - stress - feedback - daily interactions Key Concepts cognitive behavioral theory mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your automatic reactions? - Can you reframe a recent upset? A Different Perspective Reactions may be constrained by circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“RVM Thoughts for Today "You may not be able to change People's Actions , but you can choose your own Reactions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/rvm-thoughts-for-today-you-may-not-be-able-to-change-people-s-actions/) RVM > [“You may not be able to change people’s Actions, but you can choose your own Reactions. Always react Positively and be Happy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/you-may-not-be-able-to-change-people-s-actions-but-you-can-choose/) RVM > [We have the ability to choose, we are God's higher form of creation, we surpass all other forms of life and we don't use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/we-have-the-ability-to-choose-we-are-god-s-higher-form-of-creation-we/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [No matter what, we always have the power to choose hope over despair, engagement over apathy, kindness over indifference, enthusiasm over lethargy, love over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/no-matter-what-we-always-have-the-power-to-choose-hope-over-despair/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [You have the ability to choose what you want to experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-have-the-ability-to-choose-what-you-want-to-experience/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“Options - the ability to choose - is real power. This book is all about how to see and create those options with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/options-the-ability-to-choose-is-real-power-this-book-is-all-about/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [It is the ability to choose which makes us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-is-the-ability-to-choose-which-makes-us-human/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“There is negative and positive from atoms to stars and you have the ability to choose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-pavelka/there-is-negative-and-positive-from-atoms-to-stars-and-you-have-the/) Eric Pavelka > [“Freedom is not the ability to act without any constraints whatsoever. Given the constraints under which all human beings operate, freedom is the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-cantor/freedom-is-not-the-ability-to-act-without-any-constraints-whatsoever/) Paul A. Cantor > [The ability to choose is at the essential core of our grandeur. Even evil exists because God respects our ability to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/the-ability-to-choose-is-at-the-essential-core-of-our-grandeur-even/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Response-ability is the ABILITY to choose our response to any circumstance or condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/response-ability-is-the-ability-to-choose-our-response-to-any/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I love TV and film and will happily work there if it's good. But I want the ability to choose between things, to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/i-love-tv-and-film-and-will-happily-work-there-if-it-s-good-but-i/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [You have the ability to choose which way you want to go. You have to believe great things are going to happen in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-everett-keiththe-encourager/you-have-the-ability-to-choose-which-way-you-want-to-go-you-have-to/) King Everett KeithThe Encourager > [“Freedom is the ability to think, the ability to choose. Freedom is the ability to direct, to move your life where you decide, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/freedom-is-the-ability-to-think-the-ability-to-choose-freedom-is-the/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [Anyone has the ability, if they choose, to move to the higher end of the state of mind they are in. From that higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/anyone-has-the-ability-if-they-choose-to-move-to-the-higher-end-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## 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. And further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/we-need-more-than-just-the-law-of-attraction-we-need-to-connect-with/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [God is the architect of the event; you are the interpreter of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/god-is-the-architect-of-the-event-you-are-the-interpreter-of-the/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Life had broken her; just as it had broken him. But when they got together, their pieces became whole. And they continued on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/life-had-broken-her-just-as-it-had-broken-him-but-when-they-got/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“How would your life be different if...You could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year? 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [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/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have the ability to choose your reactions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Maraboli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reactions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reactions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/steve-maraboli-178_ability_you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reac_1031754.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have the ability to choose your reactions.” — Steve Maraboli", "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": "Steve Maraboli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have the ability to choose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reactions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-have-the-ability-to-choose-your-reactions/#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 } } ] } ```