---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be careful who you let define your good…"
description: "\"“Be careful who you let define your good. —Lois McMaster Bujold, science fiction writer • Why is learning to sift through possibilities and to prioriti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/whitney-johnson-37230_dreams_be-careful-who-you-let-define-your-good_1847098.jpg"
---

#  Be careful who you let define your good. —Lois McMaster…

![“Be careful who you let define your good. —Lois McMaster Bujold, science fiction writer • Why is learning to sift through possibilities and to prioritize them one of our key developmental tasks as women? • Do you have any dreams that are currently intersecting? How are you prioritizing them? • If…” quote by Whitney Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/whitney-johnson-37230_dreams_be-careful-who-you-let-define-your-good_1847098.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/whitney-johnson-37230_dreams_be-careful-who-you-let-define-your-good_1847098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/whitney-johnson-37230_dreams_be-careful-who-you-let-define-your-good_1847098.jpg)

> ““Be careful who you let define your good. —Lois McMaster Bujold, science fiction writer • Why is learning to sift through possibilities and to prioritize them one of our key developmental tasks as women? • Do you have any dreams that are currently intersecting? How are you prioritizing them? • If you are deferring a dream, have you considered keeping a journal that outlines how what you are doing now will help you achieve your dream? • Some dreams that we all deserve may go unrealized indefinitely. Do we honor that loss? • Unrealized dreams may also lead to unimagined opportunities, new dreams, and happiness. What unrealized dreams have freed up the resources (time, money, energy) that you can reinvest in your current dreams? • Is it time to redirect or shift one of your dreams? • Is there something that you used to love to do that you’ve set aside? Is it possible that you can combine your childhood skills with the ones you’ve since acquired, to tell yourself a new story—one that is fresh and relevant to you today? • Do you have a dream that needs to be supersized? What do you need to make this happen? And if you are holding back—why?””

[Whitney Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote urges careful selection of influences on one's sense of success and highlights the importance of prioritizing and integrating dreams, especially for women, while acknowledging both unrealized aspirations and new possibilities.

**In simple terms:** Choose influences wisely and prioritize your dreams.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on and align your dreams with current actions.

Themes

self‑awareness growth women’s development dreams prioritization

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal development
- creative projects
- life transitions
- journaling

Key Concepts

identity choice developmental tasks dream integration

Questions to Reflect On

- What influences define your idea of success?
- How can you combine past passions with new skills?

A Different Perspective

Unrealized dreams can limit potential if not re‑examined.

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[Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Keeping a journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-a-journal/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/)

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