About this quote

Most people spend their days reacting to whatever happens next, like leaves blown by the wind. They wake up, work, buy things, and sleep without asking why they do any of it. If you never pause to look at your own habits and beliefs, you are letting other people write your script. Are you actually in control of your choices, or are you just running on autopilot? Stepping back to look at your actions is painful, but it is the only way to be free.

When to use it

• When you realize you have spent five years at a corporate job you hate just to please your parents, and you finally sit down to figure out what you actually want.
• You find yourself in another argument with your partner over the dishes, and instead of yelling, you stop to think about why you get so angry over small things.
• After looking at a credit card statement filled with useless purchases, you decide to track your spending habits to see what hole you are trying to fill with shopping.
• You keep skipping your workouts and decide to stop making excuses about being too busy, choosing instead to look at why you are avoiding the effort.