--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think we have to be a certain way…" description: "\"We think we have to be a certain way because we have been taught to be a certain way. Actually the only truth is to keep quiet and see what happens fro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/h-w-l-poonja-25027_certain_we-think-we-have-to-be-a-certain-way-bec_2373777.jpg" --- # We think we have to be a certain way because we have been… ![“We think we have to be a certain way because we have been taught to be a certain way. Actually the only truth is to keep quiet and see what happens from there. When I feel ill-tempered, when I feel sad, when I feel distant, it's just something that is happening. When I don't compare it to the past…” quote by H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/h-w-l-poonja-25027_certain_we-think-we-have-to-be-a-certain-way-bec_2373777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/h-w-l-poonja-25027_certain_we-think-we-have-to-be-a-certain-way-bec_2373777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/h-w-l-poonja-25027_certain_we-think-we-have-to-be-a-certain-way-bec_2373777.jpg) > “We think we have to be a certain way because we have been taught to be a certain way. Actually the only truth is to keep quiet and see what happens from there. When I feel ill-tempered, when I feel sad, when I feel distant, it's just something that is happening. When I don't compare it to the past and project it into the future, then it's just something that is happening now. It's a way of dying now.” [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom comes from quiet observation of present emotions without judgment, allowing them to pass without mental projection. **In simple terms:** Observe feelings calmly without labeling or projecting. Key Takeaway Practice mindful awareness of emotions as they arise. Themes mindfulness acceptance inner peace non-attachment Mood calm introspective Type mindful inspirational When to use this quote - stressful work - relationship conflict - personal grief - health anxiety Key Concepts present-moment awareness psychology spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What emotions arise when you simply observe? - How does non-judgment change your reaction? A Different Perspective Quiet observation may be difficult during intense emotional crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [I feel sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-feel-sad/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Ill tempered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill-tempered/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [At that time, I feel sad, and I feel no one knows how hard I work and how many tears. They only know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/at-that-time-i-feel-sad-and-i-feel-no-one-knows-how-hard-i-work-and/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I always feel sad, to be honest, to see people badly injured. That's important because if someone's life is being changed like that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-wood/i-always-feel-sad-to-be-honest-to-see-people-badly-injured-that-s/) [Fiona Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-wood/) > [I care," he said in a trembling voice. "I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without it seeming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-carter/i-care-he-said-in-a-trembling-voice-i-care-so-much-that-i-do-not-know/) [Aimee Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-carter/) > [“I feel we are becoming divergent upon the paths we are walking down. I feel we are becoming distant, as the way we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/i-feel-we-are-becoming-divergent-upon-the-paths-we-are-walking-down-i/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [“I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without seeming inconsequential compared to how I feel. 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Yet we give up so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devi-yesodharan/how-quickly-it-is-that-things-that-we-once-wanted-we-now-feel-only-a/) Devi Yesodharan > [If at large gatherings or parties, or around people with whom you feel distant, your hands sometimes hang awkwardly at the ends of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/if-at-large-gatherings-or-parties-or-around-people-with-whom-you-feel/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [If you ever feel distant, never mistake who has drifted away. Prayer will close this gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-r-callister/if-you-ever-feel-distant-never-mistake-who-has-drifted-away-prayer/) [Tad R. Callister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-r-callister/) > [“You did yourself ill to feel well of those to whom ill must eventually be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/you-did-yourself-ill-to-feel-well-of-those-to-whom-ill-must/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Since she seen Fortune head in that big pot Miss Lydia say that room make her feel ill, sick with the thought of boiling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-nelson/since-she-seen-fortune-head-in-that-big-pot-miss-lydia-say-that-room/) [Marilyn Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-nelson/) > [“I feel ill,” he announced. “I’m going to bed, where I may die.” He tottered piteously to the stairs. “Bury me beside Mrs. Pentstemmon,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-feel-ill-he-announced-i-m-going-to-bed-where-i-may-die-he-tottered/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I feel very ill-equipped to be giving anyone advice about their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-feel-very-ill-equipped-to-be-giving-anyone-advice-about-their-life/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [The voice of painterly integrity spoke to me. And the idea was that one would find this anguish, or whatever, and construct it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-morley/the-voice-of-painterly-integrity-spoke-to-me-and-the-idea-was-that/) [Malcolm Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-morley/) > [If I have to do a speech, if there's no way I can get out of it, or if it's something I really should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellyse-perry/if-i-have-to-do-a-speech-if-there-s-no-way-i-can-get-out-of-it-or-if/) [Ellyse Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellyse-perry/) ## More by H. W. L. Poonja > [It is all your desires that you see, when you think. But when your mind is quiet, without desire, you are complete and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/it-is-all-your-desires-that-you-see-when-you-think-but-when-your-mind/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [You are all lions – so go your own way. Do not walk the beaten path like sheep, one after another. Do not follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/you-are-all-lions-so-go-your-own-way-do-not-walk-the-beaten-path-like/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [When mind is quiet, all is Self. When mind moves the world arises. So be Still, throw away everything and be Free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/when-mind-is-quiet-all-is-self-when-mind-moves-the-world-arises-so-be/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Always remember: The thieves of Peace are thieves in an empty house because only imagination suffers. You are Peace, that which remains Untouched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/always-remember-the-thieves-of-peace-are-thieves-in-an-empty-house/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Thoughts are impediments to seeing your deepest nature. Don't give rise to any thought, and discover who you are. That ocean of eternal peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/thoughts-are-impediments-to-seeing-your-deepest-nature-don-t-give/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [If there is peace in your mind you will find peace with everybody. If your mind is agitated you will find agitation everywhere. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/if-there-is-peace-in-your-mind-you-will-find-peace-with-everybody-if/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [The one who follows the thought is also a thought! The one who follows the thought IS in thought. When you know that both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/the-one-who-follows-the-thought-is-also-a-thought-the-one-who-follows/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Who is journeying for freedom? The one who is already free. Thoughts are impediments to seeing your own face. Don't give rise to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/who-is-journeying-for-freedom-the-one-who-is-already-free-thoughts/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [All that you are attached to, all that you love, all that you know, someday will be gone. Knowing this, and that the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/all-that-you-are-attached-to-all-that-you-love-all-that-you-know/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Something is happening because of silence, because of peace, because of silence; if your mind is silent, if your mind is quiet, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/something-is-happening-because-of-silence-because-of-peace-because-of/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Stay quiet and the noisy surface dialogues will cease. Then the substratum will rise up to the top. It is simple. Follow this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/stay-quiet-and-the-noisy-surface-dialogues-will-cease-then-the/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [If you don't know, then it's all right. There need not be any expectations. If there are no expectations, then you are free. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/if-you-don-t-know-then-it-s-all-right-there-need-not-be-any/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Reality is everywhere, and to find It 'you' must first disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/reality-is-everywhere-and-to-find-it-you-must-first-disappear/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Anything that you have imposed on yourself to be unhappy, to be bound, is a concept. It is an imaginary concept, so give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/anything-that-you-have-imposed-on-yourself-to-be-unhappy-to-be-bound/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Your nature is to keep quiet. You came from silence and you have to return to silence... you are dancing only for a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/your-nature-is-to-keep-quiet-you-came-from-silence-and-you-have-to/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) [Explore all 23 H. W. L. 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