--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must look closely at our shadow and…" description: "\"“We must look closely at our shadow and shine light on it.”\" — Gabrielle Bernstein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_light_we-must-look-closely-at-our-shadow-and-s_2450780.png" --- # We must look closely at our shadow and shine light on it. ![“We must look closely at our shadow and shine light on it.” quote by Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_light_we-must-look-closely-at-our-shadow-and-s_2450780.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_light_we-must-look-closely-at-our-shadow-and-s_2450780.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_light_we-must-look-closely-at-our-shadow-and-s_2450780.png) > ““We must look closely at our shadow and shine light on it.”” [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑examination reveals hidden flaws; confronting them with honesty brings growth. **In simple terms:** Look at your shadow and address it. Key Takeaway Face your hidden issues. Themes self‑development psychology growth Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal journaling - therapy sessions - mindfulness practice Key Concepts shadow work self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What shadow aspects do you avoid? - How does shining light change your behavior? A Different Perspective Ignoring shadows can perpetuate self‑deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closely Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closely-shadow-568957/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Look Closely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-closely/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shadow Shine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow-shine-568958/) [Shine Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shine-light/) ## Related quotes > [You are the sun, and I'm the moon. In your shadow I can shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-the-sun-and-i-m-the-moon-in-your-shadow-i-can-shine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every time you do a good deed you shine the light a little farther into the dark. And the thing is, when you're gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/every-time-you-do-a-good-deed-you-shine-the-light-a-little-farther/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [“Letting others shine their light gives you enough illumination to light your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/letting-others-shine-their-light-gives-you-enough-illumination-to/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Self-esteem is the switch in the circuit of your life that dims or brightness of your future. Bring it low and you don't shine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/self-esteem-is-the-switch-in-the-circuit-of-your-life-that-dims-or/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Sometimes, when you look more closely at your enemies, they start looking less like enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-you-look-more-closely-at-your-enemies-they-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now all the mute objects of my life seem to tell my story, to stretch back in time, if I look closely enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/now-all-the-mute-objects-of-my-life-seem-to-tell-my-story-to-stretch/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“Look closely at your greatest thoughts about yourself. That's your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quang-nguyen/look-closely-at-your-greatest-thoughts-about-yourself-that-s-your/) [Quang Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quang-nguyen/) > [You look closely enough, you'll find that everything has a weak spot where it can break, sooner or later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/you-look-closely-enough-you-ll-find-that-everything-has-a-weak-spot/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [If you look closely you'll find all my lovers inscribed on my skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ciment/if-you-look-closely-you-ll-find-all-my-lovers-inscribed-on-my-skin/) [Jill Ciment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ciment/) > [Even when you have gone as far as you can, and everything hurts, and you are staring at the specter of self-doubt, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/even-when-you-have-gone-as-far-as-you-can-and-everything-hurts-and/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [I find statistics a good thing to measure and we do look closely at them, but we don't go crazy on it, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-find-statistics-a-good-thing-to-measure-and-we-do-look-closely-at/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [“Look at me closely. Ask yourself: Do I look scared?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-hurwitz/look-at-me-closely-ask-yourself-do-i-look-scared/) [Gregg Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-hurwitz/) > [Life does not always give you what you want, but if you look closely you will see that it gives what you need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-brown/life-does-not-always-give-you-what-you-want-but-if-you-look-closely/) [Leon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-brown/) > [Look closely at the present you are constructing: it should look like the future you are dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/look-closely-at-the-present-you-are-constructing-it-should-look-like/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Learn to slow down and perceive the mysterious events and opportunities that happen in life... if we look closely we see they... bring us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-redfield/learn-to-slow-down-and-perceive-the-mysterious-events-and/) [James Redfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-redfield/) ## More by Gabrielle Bernstein > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [You'll realize the transformation is not for you alone. You'll learn that you're here to use this gift to shine light on the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/you-ll-realize-the-transformation-is-not-for-you-alone-you-ll-learn/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Stress is actually the number one thing that blocks people from their happiness and well-being and from getting what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/stress-is-actually-the-number-one-thing-that-blocks-people-from-their/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [The practice of being on a spiritual path isn't about being the best meditator or the kindest possible person or the most enlightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/the-practice-of-being-on-a-spiritual-path-isn-t-about-being-the-best/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I've worked very hard to transform my fearful delusions into loving beliefs, and I am committed to maintaining this way of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-ve-worked-very-hard-to-transform-my-fearful-delusions-into-loving/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [“Love can seem far scarier to us than fear. 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At the age of 21, I incorporated my first business: a PR firm based in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-started-my-entrepreneurial-journey-right-out-of-college-at-the-age/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [You can write a thousand lists and make a million vision boards, but if you don't clearly feel what you want to experience, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/you-can-write-a-thousand-lists-and-make-a-million-vision-boards-but/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I let go of my need to control and allow the Universe to do her thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-let-go-of-my-need-to-control-and-allow-the-universe-to-do-her-thing/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I learned that real happiness doesn’t come from getting but from giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-learned-that-real-happiness-doesn-t-come-from-getting-but-from/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Inside we are all Golden Buddha's, but we grew to believe we were made of clay. Our ego's false perceptions led us to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/inside-we-are-all-golden-buddha-s-but-we-grew-to-believe-we-were-made/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Fear and stress - one creates the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/fear-and-stress-one-creates-the-other/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) [Explore all 193 Gabrielle Bernstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) ## More Light quotes > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Light it up, bitch.' 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I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-higgins/i-don-t-want-my-kids-to-live-like-i-do-sweating-in-a-little-metal-box/) [Alex Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-higgins/) > [I am not my own light unto myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-malebranche/i-am-not-my-own-light-unto-myself/) [Nicolas Malebranche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-malebranche/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [Caught in a racial uproar, people make all sorts of promises to make amends. 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