--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spare yourself from seeking love…" description: "\"Spare yourself from seeking love, approval, or appreciation-from anyone. And watch what happens in reality, just for fun.\" — Byron Katie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/byron-katie-553_accepting-reality_spare-yourself-from-seeking-love-approva_1512462.png" --- # Spare yourself from seeking love, approval, or… ![“Spare yourself from seeking love, approval, or appreciation-from anyone. And watch what happens in reality, just for fun.” quote by Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/byron-katie-553_accepting-reality_spare-yourself-from-seeking-love-approva_1512462.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/byron-katie-553_accepting-reality_spare-yourself-from-seeking-love-approva_1512462.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/byron-katie-553_accepting-reality_spare-yourself-from-seeking-love-approva_1512462.png) > “Spare yourself from seeking love, approval, or appreciation-from anyone. And watch what happens in reality, just for fun.” [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. Advises detaching from external validation and observing reality for its own sake. **In simple terms:** Detach from needing others' approval. Key Takeaway Live for yourself, not others' praise. Themes self‑reliance validation reality mindfulness Mood introspective calm Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - relationship decisions - career choices - personal growth - social media use Key Concepts Psychology self‑help stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What does approval mean to you? - How can you balance self‑approval with healthy relationships? A Different Perspective Complete detachment may lead to isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-reality/) [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Appreciation Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation-watch-5570781/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Just for fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-for-fun/) [Just fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-fun/) [Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/katie/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Observing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observing/) [Positivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positivity/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-just-260727/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) [Seeking love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking-love/) [Spares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spares/) [Watch Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch-happens-1100385/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) ## Related quotes > [Seeking love keeps you from the awareness that you already have it—that you are it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/seeking-love-keeps-you-from-the-awareness-that-you-already-have-it/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When you become a lover of what is, the war is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-you-become-a-lover-of-what-is-the-war-is-over/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [There are three kinds of people in this world: people who make it happen, people who watch what happens, and people who wonder what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/there-are-three-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-make-it/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [Try not to say anything negative about anyone for a week, month, or even a year, and watch what happens to your life…ºï¸](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/try-not-to-say-anything-negative-about-anyone-for-a-week-month-or/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [At the end of the day, no one is going to care about your company as much as you do. That is a motto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-meyer/at-the-end-of-the-day-no-one-is-going-to-care-about-your-company-as/) [Dakota Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-meyer/) > [Keep your best wishes, close to your heart and watch what happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keep-your-best-wishes-close-to-your-heart-and-watch-what-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“the easiest way to find out what something does is to break it, and watch what happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-collen/the-easiest-way-to-find-out-what-something-does-is-to-break-it-and/) [Alanna Collen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna-collen/) > [There are times to let things happen, and times to make things happen. Now is that time. You will either make things happen, watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/there-are-times-to-let-things-happen-and-times-to-make-things-happen/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“When they bring the drama, get silent, don't react...and watch what happens (not to you, but those who habitually thrive on your 'willing' participation).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/when-they-bring-the-drama-get-silent-don-t-react-and-watch-what/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [The facade is the ego. It is motivated by our seeking love. The only reward is frustration, as it is only by loving that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/the-facade-is-the-ego-it-is-motivated-by-our-seeking-love-the-only/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [It's impressive to the girl that I'm texting that I have my own emojis. It adds to my charm as a man seeking love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-dicky/it-s-impressive-to-the-girl-that-i-m-texting-that-i-have-my-own/) [Lil Dicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-dicky/) > [“Love is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/love-is-not-self-seeking-love-is-not-easily-angered/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Her face deeply moved him. Why, he could at first not say. It gave him the impression of youth--spring flowers, yet age--a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/her-face-deeply-moved-him-why-he-could-at-first-not-say-it-gave-him/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Just as He had been doing even before the moment I consciously embarked on this journey, He revealed to me that it was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riisa-renee/just-as-he-had-been-doing-even-before-the-moment-i-consciously/) [Riisa Renee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riisa-renee/) > [Believe those who seek the truth, doubt those who find it; doubt all, but do not doubt yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/believe-those-who-seek-the-truth-doubt-those-who-find-it-doubt-all/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) ## 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 Accepting reality quotes > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [If you want to zoom down the expert slope tomorrow, you have to fall down the bunny slope today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-lewis/if-you-want-to-zoom-down-the-expert-slope-tomorrow-you-have-to-fall/) [Cynthia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-lewis/) > [Pisces have a hard time accepting reality. Once they do realize it, it hits them like a ton of bricks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pisces-have-a-hard-time-accepting-reality-once-they-do-realize-it-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you become a lover of what is, the war is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-you-become-a-lover-of-what-is-the-war-is-over/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Accepting reality yet hoping for great days to come is a necessity to keep on going forward and believing in You...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/accepting-reality-yet-hoping-for-great-days-to-come-is-a-necessity-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I find that white people in general, including white liberals and even revolutionaries, are most inclined to call you a racist when they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/runoko-rashidi/i-find-that-white-people-in-general-including-white-liberals-and-even/) [Runoko Rashidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/runoko-rashidi/) > [Sometimes I wonder, what happened to us...Where did we go wrong...It be hard accepting reality without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-wonder-what-happened-to-us-where-did-we-go-wrong-it-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life is a learning experience and this is a very peaceful method of accepting the reality you face…”What will I learn?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc/life-is-a-learning-experience-and-this-is-a-very-peaceful-method-of/) [David W. Earle LPC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc/) > [Confidence is simply that quiet assured feeling you have before you fall flat on your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-binder/confidence-is-simply-that-quiet-assured-feeling-you-have-before-you/) [Leonard Binder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-binder/) > [Abiding in peace makes us a threat to any storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/abiding-in-peace-makes-us-a-threat-to-any-storm/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm not OK, you're not OK-and that's OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/i-m-not-ok-you-re-not-ok-and-that-s-ok/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [They don't tell you this in school, Everybody plays the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/they-don-t-tell-you-this-in-school-everybody-plays-the-fool/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [That's what I mean by radical truth. I mean accepting reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/that-s-what-i-mean-by-radical-truth-i-mean-accepting-reality/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Moving on means accepting reality and that's accepting what's NOT meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/moving-on-means-accepting-reality-and-that-s-accepting-what-s-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 56 Accepting reality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-reality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Spare yourself from seeking love, approval, or appreciation-from anyone. 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