--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you are today is the choice you made…" description: "\"What you are today is the choice you made yesterday.\" — Tsem Tulku" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png" --- # What you are today is the choice you made yesterday. ![“What you are today is the choice you made yesterday.” quote by Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png) > “What you are today is the choice you made yesterday.” [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your present self results from yesterday’s choices. **In simple terms:** Today reflects yesterday’s decisions. Key Takeaway Make conscious choices now. Themes personal responsibility choice growth Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - habit formation - career planning - relationship building Key Concepts karma decision theory Questions to Reflect On - What choice shaped you most? - How will you choose today? A Different Perspective Past constraints limit options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-yesterday-2484720/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-choice-1863305/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [You are what you are today,because of the decisions and choice you made yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/you-are-what-you-are-today-because-of-the-decisions-and-choice-you/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) > [“Where you stand now is due to the choice you made yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/self-discipline/where-you-stand-now-is-due-to-the-choice-you-made-yesterday/) [Self Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/self-discipline/) > [Still today your choice and happiness are my first preference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-singh-mehta/still-today-your-choice-and-happiness-are-my-first-preference/) [Rahul Singh Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-singh-mehta/) > [“Today’s happiness depends on yesterday’s choice, just as today’s choice will determine tomorrow’s happiness.-RVM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/today-s-happiness-depends-on-yesterday-s-choice-just-as-today-s/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [The beautiful thing about TODAY is that you get the choice to make it better than YESTERDAY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-beautiful-thing-about-today-is-that-you-get-the-choice-to-make-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The amount of money currently in your bank account is a fact. The amount you spend today is a choice. And the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/the-amount-of-money-currently-in-your-bank-account-is-a-fact-the/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [Today I have a choice. I can resist reality and suffer pain or peacefully accept what I cannot change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-i-have-a-choice-i-can-resist-reality-and-suffer-pain-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The minute you say "I can't", it is another wrong affirmation to your subconscious that you choose to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/the-minute-you-say-i-can-t-it-is-another-wrong-affirmation-to-your/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Being humble doesn't mean you lose; it means you have won. Give the victory to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/being-humble-doesn-t-mean-you-lose-it-means-you-have-won-give-the/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Don't hang on to your failures, because you can always try again. Trying gives hope. Hope gives us life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/don-t-hang-on-to-your-failures-because-you-can-always-try-again/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [We must be open to our mistakes and grow. Growth isn't based on being perfect, but moving toward the best we can be by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/we-must-be-open-to-our-mistakes-and-grow-growth-isn-t-based-on-being/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Gymnasts, lazy people, complainers and successful people have all practiced to be what they are good at. So if you keep practicing being lazy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/gymnasts-lazy-people-complainers-and-successful-people-have-all/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [If we do not create inner peace, outer peace is not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/if-we-do-not-create-inner-peace-outer-peace-is-not-possible/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [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/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) ## More by Tsem Tulku > [Not everyone can see things the way you see it, so let go. You can't see everything the way they see it either, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/not-everyone-can-see-things-the-way-you-see-it-so-let-go-you-can-t/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [If we do not create inner peace, outer peace is not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/if-we-do-not-create-inner-peace-outer-peace-is-not-possible/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Gymnasts, lazy people, complainers and successful people have all practiced to be what they are good at. So if you keep practicing being lazy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/gymnasts-lazy-people-complainers-and-successful-people-have-all/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [We must be open to our mistakes and grow. Growth isn't based on being perfect, but moving toward the best we can be by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/we-must-be-open-to-our-mistakes-and-grow-growth-isn-t-based-on-being/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Don't hang on to your failures, because you can always try again. Trying gives hope. Hope gives us life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/don-t-hang-on-to-your-failures-because-you-can-always-try-again/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Being humble doesn't mean you lose; it means you have won. Give the victory to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/being-humble-doesn-t-mean-you-lose-it-means-you-have-won-give-the/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [If being me offends you, maybe I'm not the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/if-being-me-offends-you-maybe-i-m-not-the-problem/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [If you say you don't have money to help a animal shelter, why then do you have money to buy meat?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/if-you-say-you-don-t-have-money-to-help-a-animal-shelter-why-then-do/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [The minute you say "I can't", it is another wrong affirmation to your subconscious that you choose to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/the-minute-you-say-i-can-t-it-is-another-wrong-affirmation-to-your/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Eating animals is not our God-given right, but being kind to them is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/eating-animals-is-not-our-god-given-right-but-being-kind-to-them-is/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Find yourself. Be with yourself. Fail and then achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/find-yourself-be-with-yourself-fail-and-then-achieve/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [The next time you face a challenge, remember that the cost of success is far cheaper than the price of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/the-next-time-you-face-a-challenge-remember-that-the-cost-of-success/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [A persons outer action reflects their inner mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/a-persons-outer-action-reflects-their-inner-mind/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [A monk is holy and great until he starts teaching you the real Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/a-monk-is-holy-and-great-until-he-starts-teaching-you-the-real-dharma/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) > [Complaining is another way of saying to others, YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/complaining-is-another-way-of-saying-to-others-you-solve-the-problem/) [Tsem Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) [Explore all 23 Tsem Tulku quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/) ## More Buddhist quotes > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/my-family-is-jewish-buddhist-baptist-and-catholic-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Even my Buddhist friends have been feeling despair and when they go bad, you know the end is nigh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/even-my-buddhist-friends-have-been-feeling-despair-and-when-they-go/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“When I think about what it would take to achieve freedom from all psychological stuff, the response that comes is this: life is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-m-ingram/when-i-think-about-what-it-would-take-to-achieve-freedom-from-all/) [Daniel M. Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-m-ingram/) > [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-my-happiness-at-this-moment-consists-largely-in-reviewing-happy/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The Buddha gave his first talks, and three or four ascetics became his first disciples. They recognized his enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-buddha-gave-his-first-talks-and-three-or-four-ascetics-became-his/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 1,479 Buddhist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What you are today is the choice you made yesterday.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tsem Tulku" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-made-yesterday/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-made-yesterday/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/tsem-tulku-24966_buddhist_what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-mad_2668511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What you are today is the choice you made yesterday.” — Tsem Tulku", "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": "Tsem Tulku", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsem-tulku/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What you are today is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-made-yesterday/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsem-tulku/what-you-are-today-is-the-choice-you-made-yesterday/#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 } } ] } ```