--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If looking back is painful, and looking…" description: "\"If looking back is painful, and looking forward is scary, then look beside you because that is where I will be.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg" --- # If looking back is painful, and looking forward is scary… ![“If looking back is painful, and looking forward is scary, then look beside you because that is where I will be.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg) > “If looking back is painful, and looking forward is scary, then look beside you because that is where I will be.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages focusing on present companionship when past hurts and future fears dominate. **In simple terms:** Lean on present support. Key Takeaway Seek support now. Themes support present‑moment fear pain Mood comforting hopeful Type poetry self‑help When to use this quote - friendship - therapy - grief counseling Key Concepts psychology of coping mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - Who can you rely on today? - How do you balance past, present, future? A Different Perspective May ignore necessary processing of past/future. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-yourself/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Cute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute/) [Cute love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute-love/) [Forward Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward-scary-1400468/) [Live for today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-today/) [Looking forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-forward/) [Looking Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-painful-1875383/) [Love & life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-life-2/) [Love advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-advice/) [Painful Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful-looking-1875382/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Scary Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-look-1875381/) ## Related quotes > [Don't look at distance being scary, look at it as a new journey with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-look-at-distance-being-scary-look-at-it-as-a-new-journey-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His face was badly bruised and swollen and altogether painful looking, but it really brought out his eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-castle/his-face-was-badly-bruised-and-swollen-and-altogether-painful-looking/) [Nicole Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-castle/) > [We're afraid to move on, that's why there's so much nostalgia on the internet... 'cause we don't wanna look forward, that's scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/we-re-afraid-to-move-on-that-s-why-there-s-so-much-nostalgia-on-the/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [I find looking forward scary because you might die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-find-looking-forward-scary-because-you-might-die/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [We always want to be going forward. It's scary to go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellis-glendinning/we-always-want-to-be-going-forward-it-s-scary-to-go-back/) [Chellis Glendinning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellis-glendinning/) > [Everything is scary if you look at it. So you just got to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/everything-is-scary-if-you-look-at-it-so-you-just-got-to-live/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [You have to be kind of alerted to the fact that clowns are scary and then you can't look at them the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-shearsmith/you-have-to-be-kind-of-alerted-to-the-fact-that-clowns-are-scary-and/) [Reece Shearsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-shearsmith/) > [ “He \[Quin\] folded his arms over his chest, giving Bianca what Matheus had privately categorized as "Scary Look Number Seven." Scary Looks One through… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/he-quin-folded-his-arms-over-his-chest-giving-bianca-what-matheus-had/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [“Snake looks scary for us and we look scary for the snake! Always try to see yourself from the eyes of others!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/snake-looks-scary-for-us-and-we-look-scary-for-the-snake-always-try/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Live for today, love for tomorrow, and laugh at all your yesterdays. Never regret the past, always hope for the future, and cherish every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-for-today-love-for-tomorrow-and-laugh-at-all-your-yesterdays/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learn From Yesterday, Live for Today, hope for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learn-from-yesterday-live-for-today-hope-for-tomorrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is not rehearsal, each day is a new show , no repeat no rewind, so give your best shot in all your acts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-rehearsal-each-day-is-a-new-show-no-repeat-no-rewind-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Living in the past isn't going to give you a future. Living in the future isn't going to give you today. Live for today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-in-the-past-isn-t-going-to-give-you-a-future-living-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are living the life without giving an 'F' you are only living a lie...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-living-the-life-without-giving-an-f-you-are-only-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Worrying is a waste of time. It doesnt change anything. It messes with your mind and steals your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worrying-is-a-waste-of-time-it-doesnt-change-anything-it-messes-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Be yourself quotes > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I does wat I does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-does-wat-i-does/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Change nothing, just be yourself to experience peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/change-nothing-just-be-yourself-to-experience-peace/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level. It will only excite them more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-badly-people-treat-you-never-drop-down-to-their-level/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Why is it that anyone can pretend to be someone there not and never be someone they are?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akeem/why-is-it-that-anyone-can-pretend-to-be-someone-there-not-and-never/) [Akeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akeem/) > [You can never change the Past, not control the future. But, you can change the mood of the day, by touching someone's Heart with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/you-can-never-change-the-past-not-control-the-future-but-you-can/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Just be you. Do what you love. I've learned that in the end, you can't make everyone happy no matter what you say or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/just-be-you-do-what-you-love-i-ve-learned-that-in-the-end-you-can-t/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Nothing has power over you unless you allow it. No matter what happens, you can choose what and how to think, act, and speak!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-has-power-over-you-unless-you-allow-it-no-matter-what-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm might not be the best , I might not be strongest or the fastest or the smart ,but I'm sure as hades ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/i-m-might-not-be-the-best-i-might-not-be-strongest-or-the-fastest-or/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [I'm not a person to judge but I really don't care for people that follow I love the ones that want to lead unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-brown/i-m-not-a-person-to-judge-but-i-really-don-t-care-for-people-that/) [Jordan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-brown/) [Browse all 2,115 Be yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If looking back is painful, and looking forward is scary, then look beside you because that is where I will be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-forward-is-scary-then-look/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-forward-is-scary-then-look/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/anonymous-1_be-yourself_if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-f_2592826.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If looking back is painful, and looking forward is scary, then look beside you because that is where I will…” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If looking back is painful, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-forward-is-scary-then-look/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-looking-back-is-painful-and-looking-forward-is-scary-then-look/#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 } } ] } ```