--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything in my life suddenly shifted…" description: "\"“Everything in my life suddenly shifted into focus. It was like time froze and I was given a dazzling moment to comprehend the difference between that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/susan-meissner-12773_choice_everything-in-my-life-suddenly-shifted-i_154903.jpg" --- # Everything in my life suddenly shifted into focus. It was… ![“Everything in my life suddenly shifted into focus. It was like time froze and I was given a dazzling moment to comprehend the difference between that moment and the one before it. No one made choices for me. I made them. If I took no risks in the choices I’d made, it was because I didn’t have the…” quote by Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/susan-meissner-12773_choice_everything-in-my-life-suddenly-shifted-i_154903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/susan-meissner-12773_choice_everything-in-my-life-suddenly-shifted-i_154903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/susan-meissner-12773_choice_everything-in-my-life-suddenly-shifted-i_154903.jpg) > ““Everything in my life suddenly shifted into focus. It was like time froze and I was given a dazzling moment to comprehend the difference between that moment and the one before it. No one made choices for me. I made them. If I took no risks in the choices I’d made, it was because I didn’t have the courage to take them or didn’t want to live with the consequences. I didn’t want to risk disappointment myself. It had been safer to defer than to strike our on my own.”” [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth requires decisive action and risk; avoiding choices leads to stagnation. **In simple terms:** Growth needs bold choices and risk. Key Takeaway Take decisive action. Themes self‑development risk courage choice consequence growth Mood determined hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career planning - personal goals - relationship decisions - creative projects Key Concepts agency decision theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What risk have you avoided? - What would happen if you took it? A Different Perspective Risk can cause failure; not all risks are beneficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“You can't blame me for the negative choices you have made, you took me out of your life before this started to occur”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-wood/you-can-t-blame-me-for-the-negative-choices-you-have-made-you-took-me/) [Luke Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-wood/) > [I knew I really had to put down a good run. I played it safe, and took risks when I could, and I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mancuso/i-knew-i-really-had-to-put-down-a-good-run-i-played-it-safe-and-took/) [Julia Mancuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mancuso/) > [“...what has mattered are the moments of exposure to every life, when habit is no longer enough, and choices have to be made. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/what-has-mattered-are-the-moments-of-exposure-to-every-life-when/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [You don't choose what you believe moment to moment, but choices you have made do shape what you come to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/you-don-t-choose-what-you-believe-moment-to-moment-but-choices-you/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Since your outcomes are all a result of your moment-to-moment choices, you have incredible power to change your life by changing those choices. Step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/since-your-outcomes-are-all-a-result-of-your-moment-to-moment-choices/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [When you choose one way out of many, all the ways you don't take are snuffed out like candles, as if they'd never existed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/when-you-choose-one-way-out-of-many-all-the-ways-you-don-t-take-are/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“She expected too much from me, I felt. She expected me to vindicate her life for her, and the choices she'd made. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-expected-too-much-from-me-i-felt-she-expected-me-to-vindicate-her/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Suck it up, you had choices you could have made but you didn't. The world doesn't revolve aroud you, not everything is about you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/suck-it-up-you-had-choices-you-could-have-made-but-you-didn-t-the/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [In the end, we only regret the choices we didn't take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsme867/in-the-end-we-only-regret-the-choices-we-didn-t-take/) Itsme867 > [“I guess you always regret the choices you didn’t make, because you imagine that they would have been better choices, that’s the thing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-alexander/i-guess-you-always-regret-the-choices-you-didn-t-make-because-you/) [Nick Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-alexander/) > [Also, it was a cultural moment that wasn't being represented in terms of women who were successful and had choices they didn't have before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/also-it-was-a-cultural-moment-that-wasn-t-being-represented-in-terms/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [“Change couldn't be stopped...but people always had choices, didn't they? Even if change was being forced on you...you still had a choice: You could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/change-couldn-t-be-stopped-but-people-always-had-choices-didn-t-they/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [“In the end, we always regret the choices we didn’t make, the love we didn’t accept and the dreams we didn’t fight for.’ I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savi-sharma/in-the-end-we-always-regret-the-choices-we-didn-t-make-the-love-we/) [Savi Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savi-sharma/) > [We've all done things we wish we hadn't, made choices we didn't even know were choices at that time. but that doesn't mean we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-stanton-hitchcock/we-ve-all-done-things-we-wish-we-hadn-t-made-choices-we-didn-t-even/) [Jane Stanton Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-stanton-hitchcock/) > [No other entertainer in the world ever took the risks that Liberace took.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/no-other-entertainer-in-the-world-ever-took-the-risks-that-liberace/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) ## More by Susan Meissner > [“Life is wonderful and beautiful but oh, how hard it can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/life-is-wonderful-and-beautiful-but-oh-how-hard-it-can-be/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“Poetry speaks slowly. My mother told me that. We are usually too much in a hurry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/poetry-speaks-slowly-my-mother-told-me-that-we-are-usually-too-much/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“Everything beautiful has a story it wants to tell'" she said reading aloud the store's tagline at the top of the form.. "I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/everything-beautiful-has-a-story-it-wants-to-tell-she-said-reading/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“Death doesn't ever look at shoulda, though, does it? Death looks at nothing. It just does what it's meant to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/death-doesn-t-ever-look-at-shoulda-though-does-it-death-looks-at/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“You shouldn't imagine things that you haven't a shred of proof happened...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/you-shouldn-t-imagine-things-that-you-haven-t-a-shred-of-proof/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [The past hadn't been erased just because a new future had been handed it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/the-past-hadn-t-been-erased-just-because-a-new-future-had-been-handed/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“What's there to remember if not the good things?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/what-s-there-to-remember-if-not-the-good-things/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“thoughts are not things you can give or not give. Thoughts are thrust upon you. You can only hope that thoughts that you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/thoughts-are-not-things-you-can-give-or-not-give-thoughts-are-thrust/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“Shut your eyes to the world of pain, and you also shut your eyes to the world of delight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/shut-your-eyes-to-the-world-of-pain-and-you-also-shut-your-eyes-to/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“Hurried people miss many things. They see only what is right on top. . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/hurried-people-miss-many-things-they-see-only-what-is-right-on-top/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [We moved wordlessly from one room to another, from the room of the dead to the room where time lay in pages everywhere I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/we-moved-wordlessly-from-one-room-to-another-from-the-room-of-the/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“There is a calming aura at the ocean’s edge, despite the frothing foam, crashing waves and roaring white noise. The ocean looks the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/there-is-a-calming-aura-at-the-ocean-s-edge-despite-the-frothing-foam/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“People who say everything happens for a reason usually say that only when they agree with the reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/people-who-say-everything-happens-for-a-reason-usually-say-that-only/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“Terrible things can happen to you that leave you unable to risk trusting the world with what you love; I know this better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/terrible-things-can-happen-to-you-that-leave-you-unable-to-risk/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [“I smiled. "I just wish... I wish I didn't judge people by what they have or don't have. I wish I could see people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/i-smiled-i-just-wish-i-wish-i-didn-t-judge-people-by-what-they-have/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) [Explore all 53 Susan Meissner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [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/) > [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/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [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/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Everything in my life suddenly shifted into focus. 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