--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we really start to take a look at…" description: "\"When we really start to take a look at who we think we are... we start to see that while we may have various thoughts, beliefs, and identities, they do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/adyashanti-1169_awareness_when-we-really-start-to-take-a-look-at-w_994665.jpg" --- # When we really start to take a look at who we think we… ![“When we really start to take a look at who we think we are... we start to see that while we may have various thoughts, beliefs, and identities, they do not individually or collectively tell us who we are. [And yet] it is astounding how completely we humans define ourselves by the content of our…” quote by Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/adyashanti-1169_awareness_when-we-really-start-to-take-a-look-at-w_994665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/adyashanti-1169_awareness_when-we-really-start-to-take-a-look-at-w_994665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/adyashanti-1169_awareness_when-we-really-start-to-take-a-look-at-w_994665.jpg) > “When we really start to take a look at who we think we are... we start to see that while we may have various thoughts, beliefs, and identities, they do not individually or collectively tell us who we are. \[And yet\] it is astounding how completely we humans define ourselves by the content of our minds, feelings, and history.” [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our thoughts, feelings, and history are not the essence of self. **In simple terms:** Self is beyond mental content. Key Takeaway Practice observing thoughts without identification. Themes self mindfulness identity Mood calm inquisitive Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - therapy - journaling Key Concepts non‑dual awareness ego dissolution Questions to Reflect On - What mental patterns do you mistake for self? - How can you experience self beyond thoughts? A Different Perspective Hard to grasp without experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Identities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identities/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Beliefs are rigid thoughts. Beliefs are thoughts that get repeated enough to take on a kind of internal structure. No belief is the truth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/beliefs-are-rigid-thoughts-beliefs-are-thoughts-that-get-repeated/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [Because our consciousness doesn’t die at death, we carry our mind-set of thoughts and beliefs with us to the other side. As in life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/because-our-consciousness-doesn-t-die-at-death-we-carry-our-mind-set/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [“They implicitly trust that their thoughts, beliefs, and feelings are their own, and fail to recognize that they may be “channeling” someone else’s thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-firestone/they-implicitly-trust-that-their-thoughts-beliefs-and-feelings-are/) [Lisa Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-firestone/) > [Be brave and take accountability for your thoughts and beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hyman/be-brave-and-take-accountability-for-your-thoughts-and-beliefs/) [Jennifer Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hyman/) > [In our course we teach that "no thought lives in your head rent-free." 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These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/our-feelings-thoughts-beliefs-and-even-expectations-act-as-filters/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [“Beliefs are not some special category of idea sitting at a higher station of truth than our ordinary, everyday mortal thoughts. Beliefs are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-assaraf/beliefs-are-not-some-special-category-of-idea-sitting-at-a-higher/) [John Assaraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-assaraf/) > [“If you feel insecure or unhappy, you will be drawn to or create someone who may treat you poorly. Your thoughts, beliefs and emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-anthony-gibbs/if-you-feel-insecure-or-unhappy-you-will-be-drawn-to-or-create/) [Russell Anthony Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-anthony-gibbs/) > [God doesn't; shoot crap with the universe.Your innermost thoughts are beliefs that unfold as your universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/god-doesn-t-shoot-crap-with-the-universe-your-innermost-thoughts-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [My thoughts, my beliefs, my feelings are all in my brain. My brain is going to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/my-thoughts-my-beliefs-my-feelings-are-all-in-my-brain-my-brain-is/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We realize--often quite suddenly--that our sense of self, which has been formed and constructed out of our ideas, beliefs and images, is not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/we-realize-often-quite-suddenly-that-our-sense-of-self-which-has-been/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“People don't just let you change identities, not unless there's something in it for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/people-don-t-just-let-you-change-identities-not-unless-there-s/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) ## More by Adyashanti > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [This moment in which you experience stillness is every moment. Don't let the mind seduce you into the past or future. Stay in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/this-moment-in-which-you-experience-stillness-is-every-moment-don-t/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [When you rest deeply in the Unknown without trying to escape, your experience becomes very vast. As the experience of the Unknown deepens, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/when-you-rest-deeply-in-the-unknown-without-trying-to-escape-your/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Embrace suffering, and you transform your relationship with what causes you to suffer, as well as your relationship with suffering itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/embrace-suffering-and-you-transform-your-relationship-with-what/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [What is really important you can't understand with your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/what-is-really-important-you-can-t-understand-with-your-mind/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [What would happen if you were to allow everything to be exactly as it is? 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What you don't serve and what you try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/you-can-t-lose-what-you-serve-that-s-the-secret-what-you-serve-you/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [It is not the pursuit of greater and greater states of happiness and bliss that leads to enlightenment, but the yearning for Reality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/it-is-not-the-pursuit-of-greater-and-greater-states-of-happiness-and/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Suffering is how Life tells you that you are resisting or misperceiving what is real and true. It is the way Life suggests that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/suffering-is-how-life-tells-you-that-you-are-resisting-or/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Real meditation is not about mastering a technique; it's about letting go of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/real-meditation-is-not-about-mastering-a-technique-it-s-about-letting/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [When emptiness is still, that is eternity. When it moves, that is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/when-emptiness-is-still-that-is-eternity-when-it-moves-that-is-love/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/you-are-an-incredible-mystery-that-you-will-never-figure-out-to-be/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Life sustains itself. Let go of the ego and life takes care of itself through you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/life-sustains-itself-let-go-of-the-ego-and-life-takes-care-of-itself/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [One doesn't stay in a state of nirvana by hiding from difficulties. You stay in nirvana by lavishing nirvana on everyone you meet, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/one-doesn-t-stay-in-a-state-of-nirvana-by-hiding-from-difficulties/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) [Explore all 279 Adyashanti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) ## More Awareness quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. 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You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. 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