Quotes About Self-awareness

The best beginning reads is often the one with the wherewithal to admit that, living in the midst of what appears to be a confident, energetic culture, he among all the rest is lost.

Depressed people think they know themselves, but maybe they only know depression.

The picture we present to ourselves of who we think we ought to be obscures who we really are.

Meditation is not a means of forgetting the ego; it is a method of using the ego to observe and tame its own manifestations.

To free desire from the tendency to cling, we have to be willing to stumble over ourselves.

Can you grasp your right fist with your right hand? Obviously not -- your hand can't grasp itself. But there's another, less obvious reason why you can't do it: As soon as you open your right hand to grasp something, you no longer have a right fist.

Good literature is a mirror through which we see ourselves more clearly.

when they fail at sports or school or life, it's not because they didn't work hard enough or they're just not smart enough or good enough. No, they're special, so it's got to be someone else's fault. They didn't fail. Someone made them fail.

One absolutely crucial element in moving your brain from panic to logic is to put words to what you're feeling at each stage.

People who were abused as children tend to get angry and strike out at the world. People who were neglected tend to feel defeated and withdraw from the world. People who were not given guidance tend to lack confidence and self-reliance. Each pathway leads to different forms of self-defeat.

A communications expert once made this distinction: "A know-it-all who doesn't know what he is talking about is a jerk. A know-it-all who does know what he is talking about is just an ass.

It's hard to realize that you might be wrong when you think you're right—especially when your logic, analysis, emotions, experience, and preparation all point toward your conclusion. As Mark Twain said, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.

3. Realize that the crazy behavior isn't about you. Instead, it's all about the person you're dealing with.

When you stipulate to a potential problem or flaw, do it in a confident and unselfconscious way. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed the person you're communicating with will be—and the easier it will be for both of you to focus on your message.

Next time you have a quiet moment, ask yourself this question: "What's holding you back from accomplishing your goals, and how frustrating is that for you?

Fail #2: Criticizing

Research by Matthew Lieberman at UCLA shows that when people put words to their emotions—"afraid," "angry"—the amygdala, that little biological threat sensor that can throw the brain into animal mode, cools down almost instantly. At the same time, another part of the brain—part of the prefrontal cortex, which is the "smart" area of the brain—goes to work.

Then, when you find yourself starting down the rocky road to self-defeat, pause, reflect, and

When you understand irrational people's M.O.s, it'll be easier for you to realize that their weeping, coldness, whining, withdrawal, or attack-dog behavior isn't really about you. Instead, it's about them and their need to feel in control.

Both partners describe one of their own character flaws. Humility resolves self-righteousness.

Self-involvement is usually at the root of self-defeating behavior in relationships.

But other times, you'll discover that you're sticking with an irrational person simply because you don't want to feel like a bad person yourself.

The trick to this approach is to ask the question ("Do you really believe that?") not in a hostile or degrading manner, but very calmly and in a straightforward way. Your intent is not to antagonize the other person, but rather to make the person stop and realize, "I really am making a mountain out of a molehill. I must sound like a jackass.

This proves I'm totally worthless" leads to despair and loss of confidence, while "I can't stand when I act that way" can lead to wisdom and determination.