“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.”
- February 7, 1870 – May 28, 1937
- Austrian
- Psychotherapist, Medical Doctor, Founder of Individual Psychology
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Quote
“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.”
Explanation
This quote encapsulates Alfred Adler’s core belief in subjective interpretation as the foundation of human experience. Rather than being passively shaped by circumstances, Adler argued that individuals create meaning based on their personal perspectives, goals, and past experiences. The same situation may lead to very different responses in different people, because each person interprets and reacts to it according to their unique inner narrative. In this way, it is not the external situation that defines the individual, but the meaning they assign to it.
Adler’s concept of the “private logic” is key here: the internal reasoning and beliefs that each person constructs to make sense of their life. While this logic may not align with objective reality, it guides behavior with the force of conviction. This understanding marked a break from deterministic psychological models, emphasizing instead the creative power of the individual to choose how to perceive and respond to life’s challenges—even those rooted in trauma, hardship, or disadvantage.
In modern psychology and everyday life, this principle is echoed in practices like cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches individuals to reframe their thoughts to alter emotional outcomes. For example, losing a job may be seen either as a devastating failure or an opportunity for reinvention—depending on the meaning assigned. Adler’s insight empowers people to realize that while we may not control what happens to us, we always hold the power to shape our identity through the meanings we create.
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