--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any story that you tell about yourself…" description: "\"Any story that you tell about yourself causes suffering. There is no authentic story.\" — Byron Katie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/byron-katie-553_about-yourself_any-story-that-you-tell-about-yourself-c_286509.png" --- # Any story that you tell about yourself causes suffering… ![“Any story that you tell about yourself causes suffering. There is no authentic story.” quote by Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/byron-katie-553_about-yourself_any-story-that-you-tell-about-yourself-c_286509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/byron-katie-553_about-yourself_any-story-that-you-tell-about-yourself-c_286509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/byron-katie-553_about-yourself_any-story-that-you-tell-about-yourself-c_286509.png) > “Any story that you tell about yourself causes suffering. There is no authentic story.” [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑narratives create suffering; true self is beyond stories. **In simple terms:** Stories cause pain; authenticity lies beyond them. Key Takeaway Question your self‑stories. Themes self‑awareness psychology spirituality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - mindfulness practice Key Concepts Narrative identity suffering authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does your inner narrative shape your pain? - Can you experience self without story? A Different Perspective Stories can also provide meaning and connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Because of the vulgar advent, I decided to give way and, by dark and cryptic sentences, tell of the causes of the future mutation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nostradamus/because-of-the-vulgar-advent-i-decided-to-give-way-and-by-dark-and/) [Nostradamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nostradamus/) > [It's not the problem that causes our suffering; it's our thinking about the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-the-problem-that-causes-our-suffering-it-s-our-thinking/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [To be reserved, secretive, with a passionate violence that causes suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-john/to-be-reserved-secretive-with-a-passionate-violence-that-causes/) [Gwen John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-john/) > [“At an emotional level, we feel that things should be happy and when things are difficult or painful, something is wrong. According to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-pozatek/at-an-emotional-level-we-feel-that-things-should-be-happy-and-when/) Krissy Pozatek > [A cold in the head causes less suffering than an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/a-cold-in-the-head-causes-less-suffering-than-an-idea/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [When desire for a certain person's attention becomes an "I have to have" kind of grasping, then identity gets organized around needing that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/when-desire-for-a-certain-person-s-attention-becomes-an-i-have-to/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [It is our very search for perfection outside of ourselves that causes suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-our-very-search-for-perfection-outside-of-ourselves-that-causes/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Being afraid of change is a very common yet illogical thing that humans do. Attachment to the idea of permanence causes suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-afraid-of-change-is-a-very-common-yet-illogical-thing-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The appearances of the world are not the problem, it's clinging to them that causes suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilopa/the-appearances-of-the-world-are-not-the-problem-it-s-clinging-to/) [Tilopa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilopa/) > [The Buddha never intended to make desire itself the problem. When he said craving causes suffering, he was referring not to our natural inclination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/the-buddha-never-intended-to-make-desire-itself-the-problem-when-he/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [The science is my passion, the policy work my social duty. I think there's no other issue in the world that causes such suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-feilding/the-science-is-my-passion-the-policy-work-my-social-duty-i-think/) Amanda Feilding > [“all your problems or perceived causes of suffering or unhappiness were miraculously removed for you today, but you had not become more present, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/all-your-problems-or-perceived-causes-of-suffering-or-unhappiness/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [My illness is excruciating and difficult to cope with. It takes over your entire life and causes more suffering than I can describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-hillenbrand/my-illness-is-excruciating-and-difficult-to-cope-with-it-takes-over/) [Laura Hillenbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-hillenbrand/) > [Small does of advertising result in nothing, obviously. It's like giving a sick person half the medicine he needs. It just causes more suffering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/small-does-of-advertising-result-in-nothing-obviously-it-s-like/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) ## More by Byron Katie > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/people-don-t-need-sudden-revelations-they-get-what-they-need-when/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Your parents are your projection-nothing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/your-parents-are-your-projection-nothing-more/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When a thought hurts, that’s the signal that it isn’t true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-a-thought-hurts-that-s-the-signal-that-it-isn-t-true/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Since the past is unreal and the future is unreal, all your thoughts are about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/since-the-past-is-unreal-and-the-future-is-unreal-all-your-thoughts/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed that I didn't even deserve a bed to sleep in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-used-to-sleep-on-the-floor-next-to-the-bed-because-i-believed-that/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You can never make yourself believe that you're loveable, however hard you try, because when the chips are down what you really believe rises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-can-never-make-yourself-believe-that-you-re-loveable-however-hard/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Your story is your identity, and you’d do almost anything to prove that it’s true. Inquiry into self is the only thing that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/your-story-is-your-identity-and-you-d-do-almost-anything-to-prove/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Love asks for nothing. Only personalities want something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/love-asks-for-nothing-only-personalities-want-something/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I love what I think, and I'm never tempted to believe it. Thoughts are like the wind or the leaves on the trees or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-love-what-i-think-and-i-m-never-tempted-to-believe-it-thoughts-are/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Reality doesn't wait for your opinion, vote, or permission, sweetheart. It just keeps being what it is and doing what it does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-your-opinion-vote-or-permission-sweetheart/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [As long as we believe our thoughts, there will always be war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/as-long-as-we-believe-our-thoughts-there-will-always-be-war/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Reality doesn’t wait for our agreement or approval. It is what it is. You can count on it. Gary:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-our-agreement-or-approval-it-is-what-it-is/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You can't drop concepts. You can only shine a little flashlight on them as you do inquiry, an you see that what you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-can-t-drop-concepts-you-can-only-shine-a-little-flashlight-on/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) [Explore all 480 Byron Katie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## More About yourself quotes > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/dreams-really-tell-you-about-yourself-more-than-anything-else-in-this/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [Celebrate all the things you don't like about yourself. love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/celebrate-all-the-things-you-don-t-like-about-yourself-love-yourself/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Start enjoying the things you like about yourself, and if there are things you want to change, either get to work on it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/start-enjoying-the-things-you-like-about-yourself-and-if-there-are/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [Always be yourself. There's only one you. You should embrace anything that you don't like about yourself because that's individual and that's you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesy-nelson/always-be-yourself-there-s-only-one-you-you-should-embrace-anything/) [Jesy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesy-nelson/) > [It's too distracting to read about yourself. You want to be perfect and you want everyone to love you, and that's never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/it-s-too-distracting-to-read-about-yourself-you-want-to-be-perfect/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The only thing a master can teach is how to learn about yourself. There are no secrets. They are only techniques to waken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-only-thing-a-master-can-teach-is-how-to-learn-about-yourself/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I don't want to sell myself short. You hurt your spouse, not so much by the infidelity, but by the negative feelings about yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-don-t-want-to-sell-myself-short-you-hurt-your-spouse-not-so-much-by/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [A stranger can see in an instant something in you that you might spend years learning about yourself. How awful we all are when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-elliott/a-stranger-can-see-in-an-instant-something-in-you-that-you-might/) [Stephen Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-elliott/) > [Knowing is the most profound kind of love, giving someone the gift of knowledge about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-norman/knowing-is-the-most-profound-kind-of-love-giving-someone-the-gift-of/) [Marsha Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-norman/) > [Start telling the truth now and never stop. Begin by telling the truth to yourself about yourself. Then tell the truth to yourself about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/start-telling-the-truth-now-and-never-stop-begin-by-telling-the-truth/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Browse all 770 About yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Any story that you tell about yourself causes suffering. 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