Alfred Adler Giving Quotations

Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.

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.