--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's important to realize that inquiry is…" description: "\"It's important to realize that inquiry is about noticing, not about dropping the thought... Inquiry is not about getting rid of thoughts; it's about re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/byron-katie-553_awareness_it-s-important-to-realize-that-inquiry-i_3042047.png" --- # It's important to realize that inquiry is about noticing… ![“It's important to realize that inquiry is about noticing, not about dropping the thought... Inquiry is not about getting rid of thoughts; it's about realizing what's true for you, through awareness and unconditional self-love. Once you see the truth, the thought lets go of you, not the other way…” quote by Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/byron-katie-553_awareness_it-s-important-to-realize-that-inquiry-i_3042047.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/byron-katie-553_awareness_it-s-important-to-realize-that-inquiry-i_3042047.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/byron-katie-553_awareness_it-s-important-to-realize-that-inquiry-i_3042047.png) > “It's important to realize that inquiry is about noticing, not about dropping the thought... Inquiry is not about getting rid of thoughts; it's about realizing what's true for you, through awareness and unconditional self-love. Once you see the truth, the thought lets go of you, not the other way around.” [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. Inquiry focuses on noticing thoughts, not eliminating them, leading to self‑love and release. **In simple terms:** Notice thoughts, don’t suppress. Key Takeaway Practice mindful awareness. Themes mindfulness self‑love awareness Mood calm introspective Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - personal development - meditation - coaching Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay present with painful thoughts? - What self‑love practices help release? A Different Perspective May be challenging for deeply ingrained beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Dropping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dropping/) [Dropping Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dropping-thought-5020050/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiry/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Noticing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noticing/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Realize Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-inquiry-5020049/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Rid Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rid-thoughts-1800523/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Thought Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-inquiry-5020048/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-love/) [Unconditional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconditional/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Q. Why do you write? A. I have found no other way of getting rid of my thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-gane/q-why-do-you-write-a-i-have-found-no-other-way-of-getting-rid-of-my/) [Laurence Gane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-gane/) > [I get rid of the thoughts, and I get in my witness, which is down in my spiritual heart. The witness that witnesses being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-get-rid-of-the-thoughts-and-i-get-in-my-witness-which-is-down-in-my/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [If you are being taken advantage of…let go. Get rid of all thoughts of the person. There is no reason to continue to surround…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-you-are-being-taken-advantage-of-let-go-get-rid-of-all-thoughts-of/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Cultivate your own garden and let go of your tendency to examine and judge how others cultivate theirs. Catch yourself in moments of gossip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/cultivate-your-own-garden-and-let-go-of-your-tendency-to-examine-and/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Meditation is not about getting rid of all your thoughts; it’s learning not to get so lost in them that you forget what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/meditation-is-not-about-getting-rid-of-all-your-thoughts-it-s/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“My head is killing me, my throat is killing me, my stomach bubbles with toxic waste. I just want to sleep. A coma would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/my-head-is-killing-me-my-throat-is-killing-me-my-stomach-bubbles-with/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I just want to sleep. A coma would be nice. Or amnesia. Anything, just to get rid of this, these thoughts, whispers in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-just-want-to-sleep-a-coma-would-be-nice-or-amnesia-anything-just-to/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [We need to transcend our thoughts and desires to truly understand philosophy and the universe as a whole. However, in our everyday life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chang/we-need-to-transcend-our-thoughts-and-desires-to-truly-understand/) [Henry Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-chang/) > [Meditation isn't really about getting rid of thoughts, it's about changing the pattern of grasping on to things, which in our everyday experience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/meditation-isn-t-really-about-getting-rid-of-thoughts-it-s-about/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [We have to be careful not to think that meditation is about getting rid of thoughts. On the contrary, I would say that meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that-meditation-is-about-getting/) [Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/) > [In my experience, we don't make thoughts appear, they just appear. One day, I noticed that their appearance just wasn't personal. Noticing that really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/in-my-experience-we-don-t-make-thoughts-appear-they-just-appear-one/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You could drive past it without noticing and from what I understand, you ought to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-could-drive-past-it-without-noticing-and-from-what-i-understand/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [When every day seems the same, it is because we have stopped noticing the good things that appear in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-every-day-seems-the-same-it-is-because-we-have-stopped-noticing/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I'm getting less good at faking it. People in my family are noticing and asking what's wrong. My friends give me invitations to talk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-manning/i-m-getting-less-good-at-faking-it-people-in-my-family-are-noticing/) [Martha Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-manning/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## 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 Awareness quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. 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. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) [Vashti Quiroz-Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vashti-quiroz-vega/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Browse all 4,768 Awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's important to realize that inquiry is about noticing, not about dropping the thought... Inquiry is not about getting rid of thoughts; it's about realizing what's true for you, through awareness and unconditional self-love. 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