--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is a mirror and reflects back…" description: "\"The world is a mirror and reflects back your expectations. What you get is what you see.\" — Denis Waitley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/denis-waitley-977_expectations_the-world-is-a-mirror-and-reflects-back_2772352.jpg" --- # The world is a mirror and reflects back your expectations… ![“The world is a mirror and reflects back your expectations. What you get is what you see.” quote by Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/denis-waitley-977_expectations_the-world-is-a-mirror-and-reflects-back_2772352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/denis-waitley-977_expectations_the-world-is-a-mirror-and-reflects-back_2772352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/denis-waitley-977_expectations_the-world-is-a-mirror-and-reflects-back_2772352.jpg) > “The world is a mirror and reflects back your expectations. What you get is what you see.” [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The world reflects your expectations; you receive what you anticipate. **In simple terms:** Expectations shape reality. Key Takeaway Align expectations with desired outcomes. Themes mindset expectation self‑fulfilling perception Mood motivational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - goal setting - visualization - performance coaching - relationship dynamics Key Concepts cognitive psychology law of attraction behavioral expectation Questions to Reflect On - What expectations are you projecting? - How can you adjust expectations for better outcomes? A Different Perspective Unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Reflects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-reflects/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Reflects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflects/) [Reflects Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflects-expectations-3251691/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-mirror-451289/) ## Related quotes > [The world is a mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, friendly & helpful the world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-world-is-a-mirror-it-reflects-back-to-you-what-you-are-if-you-are/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [To every soul you encounter, be a mirror, which reflects only their beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-every-soul-you-encounter-be-a-mirror-which-reflects-only-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mirror reflects all objects without being sullied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-mirror-reflects-all-objects-without-being-sullied/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A mirror reflects what you see, and a black mirror shows the dark side of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-brewer/a-mirror-reflects-what-you-see-and-a-black-mirror-shows-the-dark-side/) [Madeline Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-brewer/) > [“the mirror that reflects my naked fire-mutt body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-mirror-that-reflects-my-naked-fire-mutt-body/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mirror that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/two-ways-to-be-a-light-for-all-is-to-be-a-flaming-candle-or-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [I am what I want. What I seek to consume, possess, and achieve is a mirror that reflects my lusts and cravings, values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-am-what-i-want-what-i-seek-to-consume-possess-and-achieve-is-a/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [The world is a mirror in which everyone sees himself reflected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-goddard/the-world-is-a-mirror-in-which-everyone-sees-himself-reflected/) [Neville Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-goddard/) > [The world is a mirror of infinite beauty, yet no man sees it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-traherne/the-world-is-a-mirror-of-infinite-beauty-yet-no-man-sees-it/) [Thomas Traherne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-traherne/) > [The world is a mirror, an imaging of Love's perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-world-is-a-mirror-an-imaging-of-love-s-perfection/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The world around us is nothing more and nothing less than a mirror of what we have become from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-braden/the-world-around-us-is-nothing-more-and-nothing-less-than-a-mirror-of/) [Gregg Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-braden/) > [Life is a mirror, it reflects your face. Be friendly, and all of life will reflect friendliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-is-a-mirror-it-reflects-your-face-be-friendly-and-all-of-life/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The mind sees the world as a thing apart, And the soul makes the world at one with itself. A mirror scratched reflects no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-mind-sees-the-world-as-a-thing-apart-and-the-soul-makes-the-world/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray; nay, when it strikes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/happiness-is-a-sunbeam-which-may-pass-through-a-thousand-bosoms/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dreier/the-world-is-a-great-mirror-it-reflects-back-to-you-what-you-are-if/) [Thomas Dreier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dreier/) ## More by Denis Waitley > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Optimism boosts your energy and focuses your sights on reaching your goals, rather than wallowing in your setbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/optimism-boosts-your-energy-and-focuses-your-sights-on-reaching-your/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You can only do good if you feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-can-only-do-good-if-you-feel-good/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [There never was a winner, who wasn't a beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/there-never-was-a-winner-who-wasn-t-a-beginner/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The greatest limitations you will ever face will be those you place on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-greatest-limitations-you-will-ever-face-will-be-those-you-place/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The easiest thing is to make sure you feel happy and satisfied in this moment. Setting long term goals is much more effort taking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-easiest-thing-is-to-make-sure-you-feel-happy-and-satisfied-in/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You must get money to chase you, but never let it catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-must-get-money-to-chase-you-but-never-let-it-catch-up/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Contentment is for cows; a challenging purpose is for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/contentment-is-for-cows-a-challenging-purpose-is-for-people/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The season for enjoying the fullness of life - partaking of the harvest, sharing the harvest with others, and reinvesting and saving portions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-season-for-enjoying-the-fullness-of-life-partaking-of-the-harvest/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Goals are like stepping-stones to the stars. They should never be used to put a ceiling or a limit on achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/goals-are-like-stepping-stones-to-the-stars-they-should-never-be-used/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The two greatest fear busters are knowledge and action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-two-greatest-fear-busters-are-knowledge-and-action/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Positive self-expectancy is the first, most outwardly identifiable quality of a top-achieving, winning human being. Positive self-expectancy is pure and simple optimism: real enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/positive-self-expectancy-is-the-first-most-outwardly-identifiable/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The seeds of greatness are ideas you learn from people who've been great in their service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-seeds-of-greatness-are-ideas-you-learn-from-people-who-ve-been/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Discipline is doing within, while you do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/discipline-is-doing-within-while-you-do-without/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) [Explore all 316 Denis Waitley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More Expectations quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I say this all the time: I've always been really good at managing my expectations so that I'm not let down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-say-this-all-the-time-i-ve-always-been-really-good-at-managing-my/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [It's a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/it-s-a-good-place-when-all-you-have-is-hope-and-not-expectations/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [When we give from a place of love, rather than from a place of expectation, more usually comes back to us than we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/when-we-give-from-a-place-of-love-rather-than-from-a-place-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) [Browse all 4,210 Expectations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world is a mirror and reflects back your expectations. 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