Everything Is Figureoutable: Quotes to Live By

This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Everything Is Figureoutable" by Marie Forleo. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.

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What’s the secret to achieving your dreams? What are the best Everything Is Figureoutable quotes that will help you overcome life’s challenges?

In Everything Is Figureoutable, Marie Forleo says that not all of life’s problems are impossible. In fact, all of them are fixable, and learning how to fix them is the first step to living a great lifestyle.

Continue reading for inspirational Everything Is Figureoutable quotes to get you motivated.

Everything Is Figureoutable Quotes by Marie Forleo

In Everything Is Figureoutable, Forleo shares what “everything is figureoutable” means, why it works, and how she used this philosophy to transform her own path—from being a lost young woman with no idea what to do with her life to becoming a self-made millionaire with her own weekly web show, MarieTV. She also discusses how to apply the philosophy to your life—for instance by focusing on only one goal at a time—so you can achieve your dreams and overcome all obstacles.

To get the main ideas from her philosophy, read these Everything Is Figureoutable quotes with brief descriptions.

“You can do whatever you set your mind to if you just roll up your sleeves, get in there, and do it. Everything is figureoutable.”

Forleo explains that “everything is figureoutable” is a mindset with which you can approach every issue in your life. When you believe that things are figureoutable, you believe that you’re capable of solving any problem you face—although you may actively choose not to solve an issue if it isn’t a priority.

You can apply this mindset to all problems in life, even big ones like solving climate change: Even if you don’t solve the full issue in your lifetime, you can make huge progress—the same way that Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t solve racism but made huge strides. Forleo says she learned this philosophy from her mother, who had a fix-it attitude toward everything despite having just a high school education and lacking access to the internet. For example, when Forleo’s mother’s beloved radio broke, she took it upon herself to fix it—and succeeded.

Forleo clarifies that this philosophy holds true both when you don’t know what to do (like how to fix a radio) and when you face setbacks that seemingly prevent you from achieving your goal. For example, if you’re laid off during a recession, don’t resign yourself to not making any money because you’re convinced nobody is hiring full-time workers. Follow Forleo’s philosophy and look for other ways to make money—such as by searching for freelance opportunities.

“Perfectionism at its core isn’t about high standards. It’s about fear. Fear of failure. Fear of looking stupid, fear of making a mistake, fear of being judged, criticized, and ridiculed. It’s the fear that one simple fact might be true.”

Forleo argues that while fear can be a warning sign that you’re about to make a mistake, it can also be a good thing: If you’re afraid to do something, it’s often a sign that you care deeply about it—and so should do it.

To determine what exactly your fear is telling you, try this exercise: First, relax your body by taking several deep breaths. Then, ask yourself whether doing the thing that scares you makes you feel open or closed off—and pay attention to how your body reacts. If you feel enthusiastic and like a weight has been lifted, that’s a good sign. If your muscles tense and you feel nauseated, consider holding off.

Assuming that your fear is a good sign, how can you push past it? Forleo recommends against waiting for your fear to dissipate because it will only fester. Instead, you must act despite your fear—which is the only way to beat it. In other words, you must do the thing that scares you despite being afraid. This is the only way to become braver—and the braver you become, the more willing you’ll be to tackle new challenges.

One area in which the power of acting despite your fear is particularly evident is when you learn a new skill. Forleo explains that the skills you’re confident in are in your “comfort zone,” or zone of safety, and the skills you don’t yet have are in your “growth zone,” or zone of improvement. Initially, you’ll struggle to tackle skills in your zone of improvement—but as you get better at doing them, your zone of safety will expand to include these skills. The more you expand this zone of safety by learning new skills, the more confidence you’ll gain and the more willing you’ll be to tackle new challenges in your zone of improvement.

“In order to change ourselves, we must first believe we can.”

One reason you may not go after your dreams is that you believe you’re unable to. However, Forleo argues that in most cases, when you say, “I’m unable to do this,” what you really mean is, “This is not a priority for me.” Using the word unable allows you to deny the agency you have over your own life. She recommends adopting the mindset that you are totally in control of your life—at least over your actions and how you respond to circumstances. Recognizing that you have control forces you to become more proactive and to solve any issues you may face.

Forleo notes two common ways we try to deny our agency.

1) We believe we lack the time to pursue our dreams. If this is you, spend a week recording how you spend your time, then look for ways to free up two hours each day; you likely can do so by limiting how much time you spend on your cell phone or watching TV.

2) We believe that we lack money. If this is you, look for free courses that will teach you what you need to know; alternatively, sell your possessions, apply for a scholarship, or get a part-time job to cover your expenses.

Everything Is Figureoutable: Quotes to Live By