Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.
Alfred AdlerRead
We are not determined by our experiences, but are self-determined by the meaning we give to them; and when we take particular experiences as the basis for our future life, we are almost certain to be misguided to some degree. Meanings are not determined by situations. We determine ourselves by the meanings we ascribe to situations.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our understanding and interpretation of experiences shape who we are, not the experiences themselves.
This quote by Alfred Adler emphasizes the power of our perception and interpretation of experiences in shaping our identity and outlook on life. Rather than being mere products of our circumstances, we have the agency to assign meaning to our experiences, and it is this assigned meaning that ultimately influences our future decisions and beliefs. If we allow our interpretations to be misinformed by singular experiences, we risk steering ourselves off course in life.
Themes
ExperienceMeaningSelf-DeterminationPerceptionIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, you might use this quote to illustrate that how we interpret our struggles can empower us.
More from Alfred Adler
All quotes →War is not the continuation of politics with different means, it is the greatest mass-crime perpetrated on the community of man.
Alfred AdlerRead
Every individual acts and suffers in accordance with his peculiar teleology, which has all the inevitability of fate, so long as he does not understand it.
Alfred AdlerRead
The science of the mind can only have for its proper goal the understanding of human nature by every human being, and through its use, brings peace to every human soul.
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All failures - neurotics, psychotics, criminals, drunkards, problem children, suicides, perverts, and prostitutes - are failures because they are lacking in social interest
Alfred AdlerRead
What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!
Alfred AdlerRead
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