--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it was in this moment, lying in bed…" description: "\"But it was in this moment, lying in bed late at night, that I first realized that the voice in my head—the running commentary that had dominated my fie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png" --- # But it was in this moment, lying in bed late at night… ![“But it was in this moment, lying in bed late at night, that I first realized that the voice in my head—the running commentary that had dominated my field of consciousness since I could remember—was kind of an asshole.” quote by Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png) > “But it was in this moment, lying in bed late at night, that I first realized that the voice in my head—the running commentary that had dominated my field of consciousness since I could remember—was kind of an asshole.” [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realizes his inner critic is harsh, recognizing self‑talk can be damaging. **In simple terms:** His inner voice is often unkind. Key Takeaway Tame the inner critic. Themes self‑awareness mental health criticism humor Mood introspective humorous Type self‑help reflective When to use this quote - therapy - personal growth - stress management - creative work Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑compassion mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your inner critic? - How can you reframe negative self‑talk? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can also motivate improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asshole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asshole/) [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Commentary Dominated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentary-dominated-2427969/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Night Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night-realized-387681/) [Realized Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized-voice-610016/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running Commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-commentary-371705/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voices in my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voices-in-my-head/) ## Related quotes > [I always had a running commentary in my head that was extremely funny and off-center, but I never said it to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/i-always-had-a-running-commentary-in-my-head-that-was-extremely-funny/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [“The running commentary, the loving support, the jokes and the observations and the random thoughts that are made a little less random when they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-running-commentary-the-loving-support-the-jokes-and-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I think one of my big struggles with being famous in my early 20s was that there was a constant running commentary telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-think-one-of-my-big-struggles-with-being-famous-in-my-early-20s-was/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [I was not aware of how much I loved 'Canoa' until I saw it after doing 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' and realized that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-was-not-aware-of-how-much-i-loved-canoa-until-i-saw-it-after-doing/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [Whenever I have a problem I just SING it made me realized that my VOICE is worse than my problem. :-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhoni-czhang/whenever-i-have-a-problem-i-just-sing-it-made-me-realized-that-my/) [JHONI (Czhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhoni-czhang/) > [“I thought a voice had to be about what you could do. It wasn’t until I heard Billie Holiday that I realized a voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lockwood/i-thought-a-voice-had-to-be-about-what-you-could-do-it-wasn-t-until-i/) [Patricia Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lockwood/) > [When a music teacher that I had at school was taken ill and we had a variety show and I had to fill in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/when-a-music-teacher-that-i-had-at-school-was-taken-ill-and-we-had-a/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [“You were the one choice I made for myself. And that one choice was taken away from me, because the night I realized I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-k-larsen/you-were-the-one-choice-i-made-for-myself-and-that-one-choice-was/) [Annette K. Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-k-larsen/) > [“Last night, I realized that it is possible for love to die in an instant. It felt sickening to lie with you in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-celis/last-night-i-realized-that-it-is-possible-for-love-to-die-in-an/) [Christine Celis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-celis/) > [“It was night before I realized. I had already stepped into the old building with a low wood ceiling. A man behind the brick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinkberry/it-was-night-before-i-realized-i-had-already-stepped-into-the-old/) [Pinkberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinkberry/) > [“You think you know that someone sees you one way, and barely at all, and then you realize that they see you in another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/you-think-you-know-that-someone-sees-you-one-way-and-barely-at-all-2/) [Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/) > [“somehow, that night, I realized that I didn’t need to worry about tomorrow. I was fine where I was. I just needed to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/somehow-that-night-i-realized-that-i-didn-t-need-to-worry-about/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I have a lot of haters. But last night I realized how much I am loved^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/i-have-a-lot-of-haters-but-last-night-i-realized-how-much-i-am-loved/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [Lucian was beginning to get used to hearing her small observations at night. More than anything, he realized he liked her voice in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/lucian-was-beginning-to-get-used-to-hearing-her-small-observations-at/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“You think you know that someone sees you one way, and barely at all, and then you realize that they see you in another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/you-think-you-know-that-someone-sees-you-one-way-and-barely-at-all/) [Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/) ## More by Dan Harris > [“Imagine a world where people were 10% happier and less reactive. Marriage, parenting, road rage, politics - all would be improved upon. Public health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/imagine-a-world-where-people-were-10-happier-and-less-reactive/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“retreat, with nothing to look forward to, nowhere to be, nothing to do, we are forced to confront the “wound of existence” head-on, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/retreat-with-nothing-to-look-forward-to-nowhere-to-be-nothing-to-do/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“It’s like we’ve been enchanted,” he says. “We’ve been put under a spell—believing that this or that is going to be the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/it-s-like-we-ve-been-enchanted-he-says-we-ve-been-put-under-a-spell/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [Prepare like no other, know that there was nothing left for you to do when it's all said and done. This way a loss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/prepare-like-no-other-know-that-there-was-nothing-left-for-you-to-do/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“Picture the mind like a waterfall, they said: the water is the torrent of thoughts and emotions; mindfulness is the space behind the waterfall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/picture-the-mind-like-a-waterfall-they-said-the-water-is-the-torrent/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“They had a term, too, for that thing I did where something would bother me and I would immediately project forward to an unpleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/they-had-a-term-too-for-that-thing-i-did-where-something-would-bother/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“patients saw their health improve if they did volunteer work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/patients-saw-their-health-improve-if-they-did-volunteer-work/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“Marturano recommended something radical: do only one thing at a time. When you’re on the phone, be on the phone. When you’re in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/marturano-recommended-something-radical-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“I’m thinking: Yes, right—there is a point to sitting around all day with your eyes closed: to gain some control over the mind, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/i-m-thinking-yes-right-there-is-a-point-to-sitting-around-all-day/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“in our seat, every bite of food, every pleasant daydream—is designed to avoid pain or seek pleasure. But if we can drop all that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/in-our-seat-every-bite-of-food-every-pleasant-daydream-is-designed-to/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [Meditation is just simple brain exercise. I exercise and this made sense to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/meditation-is-just-simple-brain-exercise-i-exercise-and-this-made/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“Perhaps the most meaningful exchange I had on the subject was a completely random discussion with my uncle Martin at my parents’ annual summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/perhaps-the-most-meaningful-exchange-i-had-on-the-subject-was-a/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“While I may not have been physically addicted, I was certainly psychologically hooked. I missed getting high so badly that it was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/while-i-may-not-have-been-physically-addicted-i-was-certainly/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“was elated and relieved, light-headed with glee. It was as if I had totally forgotten all of Joseph’s dharma talks about the impossibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/was-elated-and-relieved-light-headed-with-glee-it-was-as-if-i-had/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“The route of true happiness, the Buddha argued, was to achieve a visceral understanding of impermanence, which would take you off the emotional roller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/the-route-of-true-happiness-the-buddha-argued-was-to-achieve-a/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) [Explore all 87 Dan Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) ## More Asshole quotes > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Hated By many Trash Talked By Many Guess How Many Fucks I Give Its Less Than One Asshole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karal/hated-by-many-trash-talked-by-many-guess-how-many-fucks-i-give-its/) [Karal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karal/) > [Sphincter is a Technical word for asshole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sphincter-is-a-technical-word-for-asshole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When someone describes themself as a taxpayer, they're about to be an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/when-someone-describes-themself-as-a-taxpayer-they-re-about-to-be-an/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“The asshole slipped Peggy a five-spot to bring him his burger first. Never trust a man with a penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/the-asshole-slipped-peggy-a-five-spot-to-bring-him-his-burger-first/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [Dream big, work hard and don't be an asshole!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shinoda/dream-big-work-hard-and-don-t-be-an-asshole/) [Mike Shinoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shinoda/) > [Broken hearts are for assholes, are you an asshole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/broken-hearts-are-for-assholes-are-you-an-asshole/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“When she had asked him how he was able to kill two men with his bare hands, he had gone into asshole mode, telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-taylor/when-she-had-asked-him-how-he-was-able-to-kill-two-men-with-his-bare/) [Brad Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-taylor/) > [“It was official. I was an asshole with a permanently broken heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-sheehan/it-was-official-i-was-an-asshole-with-a-permanently-broken-heart/) [Madeline Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-sheehan/) > [If you are an asshole, we can be best Friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-you-are-an-asshole-we-can-be-best-friends/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Did I ever tell you about the man who taught his asshole to talk? His whole abdomen would move up and down, you dig,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-man-who-taught-his-asshole-to-talk-his/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“She really liked you, Noah,' 'Yeah, well, maybe I'm just an asshole.' 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Babette said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/christ-what-an-asshole-babette-said/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) [Browse all 489 Asshole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asshole/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But it was in this moment, lying in bed late at night, that I first realized that the voice in my head—the running commentary that had dominated my field of consciousness since I could remember—was kind of an asshole.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-late-at-night-that-i-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asshole" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-late-at-night-that-i-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/dan-harris-7769_asshole_but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-l_1850925.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it was in this moment, lying in bed late at night, that I first realized that the voice in my head—the…” — Dan Harris", "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": "Dan Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But it was in this moment,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-late-at-night-that-i-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/but-it-was-in-this-moment-lying-in-bed-late-at-night-that-i-first/#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 } } ] } ```