---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I closed my eyes. I forced myself to…"
description: "\"I closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, to remember that here, now, and always, I was the predator.\" — Alexandra Bracken"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png"
---

#  I closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, to remember…

![“I closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, to remember that here, now, and always, I was the predator.” quote by Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png)

> “I closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, to remember that here, now, and always, I was the predator.”

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker adopts a predator mindset to gain confidence and control in the present moment.

**In simple terms:** Adopt a powerful mindset now.

Key Takeaway

Embrace confidence and agency.

Themes

self‑empowerment mindset presence

Mood

determined focused

Type

motivational psychological

When to use this quote

- stressful situations
- performance anxiety
- competitive environments

Key Concepts

psychology self‑efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does feeling powerful affect your actions?
- When is a predator mindset inappropriate?

A Different Perspective

Mindset alone may not change external circumstances.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Closed eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-eyes/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Forced Relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forced-relax-4902608/) [Predator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predator/) [Relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relax/) [Relax Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relax-remember-3429174/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Predator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-predator-4902607/)

## Related quotes

> [“...she forced herself to relax her shoulders and affect a tone of bored insouciance that the Widow would have approved, and said, "I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-thorland/she-forced-herself-to-relax-her-shoulders-and-affect-a-tone-of-bored/)

[Donna Thorland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-thorland/)

> [The more you do it, the more you learn to concentrate, as a child does, incredibly intensively and then you sort of have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/the-more-you-do-it-the-more-you-learn-to-concentrate-as-a-child-does/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [“The truth is that you may mess up a bit. Don’t panic. Relax and remember to give your best and let the chips fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stalina-goodwin/the-truth-is-that-you-may-mess-up-a-bit-don-t-panic-relax-and/)

[Stalina Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stalina-goodwin/)

> [Keep your head high,legs closed,eyes open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-bluntst0ner/keep-your-head-high-legs-closed-eyes-open/)

[Y!bluntSt0ner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-bluntst0ner/)

> [Study your subject through half-closed eyes before starting to draw - you'll find that the lights and darks are exaggerated and easier to identify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-smith/study-your-subject-through-half-closed-eyes-before-starting-to-draw/)

[Stan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-smith/)

> [You said you dint wanna see me get hurt , so does that mean you closed your eyes when I cried ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-you-dint-wanna-see-me-get-hurt-so-does-that-mean-you-closed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Nearly unable to bear the thought of how much he needed her quiet strength, he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/nearly-unable-to-bear-the-thought-of-how-much-he-needed-her-quiet/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [If a dream affords the dreamer some light on himself, it is not the person with closed eyes who makes the discovery but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/if-a-dream-affords-the-dreamer-some-light-on-himself-it-is-not-the/)

[Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/)

> [“She closed her eyes and prayed to whichever small ineffectual god protects the hearts of women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wright/she-closed-her-eyes-and-prayed-to-whichever-small-ineffectual-god/)

[Kim Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wright/)

> [And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/and-the-last-thought-he-had-that-morning-as-he-closed-his-eyes-was-i/)

[Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/)

> [“I closed my eyes and my body settled.Without thinking my body knew it'd do anything,anything, for Holden Maxwell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-closed-my-eyes-and-my-body-settled-without-thinking-my-body-knew-it/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [True beauty is seen through closed eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-beauty-is-seen-through-closed-eyes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [You were the oníly one I saw when I closed my eyes..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/you-were-the-on-ly-one-i-saw-when-i-closed-my-eyes/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

## More by Alexandra Bracken

> [“Me and nice things didn't go well together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/me-and-nice-things-didn-t-go-well-together/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“Do you think the memory of someone should dictate how we live going forward?' he asks, threading and unthreading his fingers together. 'It depends,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/do-you-think-the-memory-of-someone-should-dictate-how-we-live-going/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“You just had to be willing to let the people around you serve as supports, and take their share of it when it seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/you-just-had-to-be-willing-to-let-the-people-around-you-serve-as/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [You can destroy a factory, and they'll build another. But once you destroy a life, that's it. You never get that person back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/you-can-destroy-a-factory-and-they-ll-build-another-but-once-you/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“I’m going to guess you probably don’t want to hear about the time he pushed my head through the neighbor’s fence.…” “Was there a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-m-going-to-guess-you-probably-don-t-want-to-hear-about-the-time-he/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“I didn't have time for tears anymore. I had questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-didn-t-have-time-for-tears-anymore-i-had-questions/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [Because she knows what it's like to live in a world of black, and black, and the tiny bit of white, but when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/because-she-knows-what-it-s-like-to-live-in-a-world-of-black-and/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“What is it about horrible, violent things that capture us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/what-is-it-about-horrible-violent-things-that-capture-us/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“Better to risk helping someone than regret what you could have done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/better-to-risk-helping-someone-than-regret-what-you-could-have-done/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“Let me tell you what I think about your fucking rules ," he said, his voice dripping with venom as he pushed past Liam.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/let-me-tell-you-what-i-think-about-your-fucking-rules-he-said-his/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [I had this almost secret life of going to 'Star Wars' conventions because,' when I was younger, Star Wars' had phased into the uncool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-had-this-almost-secret-life-of-going-to-star-wars-conventions/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“It was nothing that would hawe seemed odd from the outside, looking in, or drawn attention unless you were really, truly staring at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/it-was-nothing-that-would-hawe-seemed-odd-from-the-outside-looking-in/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“The only thing Liam ever said about him was that he used to set his toys on fire when he didn't get his way”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/the-only-thing-liam-ever-said-about-him-was-that-he-used-to-set-his/)

[alexandra bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“Liam is safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/liam-is-safe/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“I'm thinking that it's frustrating to feel like I know certain parts of you so well, but others parts of you..." What coud I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-m-thinking-that-it-s-frustrating-to-feel-like-i-know-certain-parts/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

[Explore all 344 Alexandra Bracken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

## More Closed eyes quotes

> [You were the oníly one I saw when I closed my eyes..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/you-were-the-on-ly-one-i-saw-when-i-closed-my-eyes/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

> [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [True beauty is seen through closed eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-beauty-is-seen-through-closed-eyes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I closed my eyes and my body settled.Without thinking my body knew it'd do anything,anything, for Holden Maxwell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-closed-my-eyes-and-my-body-settled-without-thinking-my-body-knew-it/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/and-the-last-thought-he-had-that-morning-as-he-closed-his-eyes-was-i/)

[Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/)

> [“She closed her eyes and prayed to whichever small ineffectual god protects the hearts of women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wright/she-closed-her-eyes-and-prayed-to-whichever-small-ineffectual-god/)

[Kim Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wright/)

> [If a dream affords the dreamer some light on himself, it is not the person with closed eyes who makes the discovery but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/if-a-dream-affords-the-dreamer-some-light-on-himself-it-is-not-the/)

[Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/)

> [Keep your head high,legs closed,eyes open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-bluntst0ner/keep-your-head-high-legs-closed-eyes-open/)

[Y!bluntSt0ner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-bluntst0ner/)

> [Nearly unable to bear the thought of how much he needed her quiet strength, he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/nearly-unable-to-bear-the-thought-of-how-much-he-needed-her-quiet/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [You said you dint wanna see me get hurt , so does that mean you closed your eyes when I cried ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-you-dint-wanna-see-me-get-hurt-so-does-that-mean-you-closed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Study your subject through half-closed eyes before starting to draw - you'll find that the lights and darks are exaggerated and easier to identify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-smith/study-your-subject-through-half-closed-eyes-before-starting-to-draw/)

[Stan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-smith/)

> [“No.” Valentina closed her eyes. Of course not. “It’ll be great, Mouse. We’ll have our own apartment, we won’t have to work,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/no-valentina-closed-her-eyes-of-course-not-it-ll-be-great-mouse-we-ll/)

[Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/)

> [Few times ago I closed my eyes. Than I saw a dream that u r the happiest person in this world. If it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/few-times-ago-i-closed-my-eyes-than-i-saw-a-dream-that-u-r-the/)

[Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/)

> [He fell in love with the way she closed her eyes, long before he fell in love with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/he-fell-in-love-with-the-way-she-closed-her-eyes-long-before-he-fell/)

[Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/)

[Browse all 210 Closed eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-eyes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, to remember that here, now, and always, I was the predator.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexandra Bracken"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-relax-to-remember-that-here-now/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Closed eyes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-relax-to-remember-that-here-now/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/alexandra-bracken-863_closed-eyes_i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-rela_3022991.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, to remember that here, now, and always, I was the predator.” — Alexandra Bracken",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alexandra Bracken",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I closed my eyes. I forced...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-relax-to-remember-that-here-now/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-closed-my-eyes-i-forced-myself-to-relax-to-remember-that-here-now/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```