---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We use our minds in a way similar to how…"
description: "\"“We use our minds in a way similar to how we use a scale - it tells us its worth, its value. But what if the scale has not been accurately recalibrated..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png"
---

#  We use our minds in a way similar to how we use a scale…

![“We use our minds in a way similar to how we use a scale - it tells us its worth, its value. But what if the scale has not been accurately recalibrated to zero? What if you had forgotten to remove mental and emotional baggage?” quote by Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png)

> ““We use our minds in a way similar to how we use a scale - it tells us its worth, its value. But what if the scale has not been accurately recalibrated to zero? What if you had forgotten to remove mental and emotional baggage?””

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Our self‑valuation can be distorted by unexamined emotional baggage, leading to inaccurate self‑assessment.

**In simple terms:** Our mind’s scale can be off if we carry hidden baggage.

Key Takeaway

Recalibrate your mental scale regularly.

Themes

self‑awareness mental health valuationvaluation

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- therapy
- coaching
- daily reflection

Key Concepts

psychology mindfulness self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden baggage might be skewing your self‑worth?
- How can you identify and release it?

A Different Perspective

If you ignore hidden baggage, you may repeat misjudgments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Emotional baggage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-baggage/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-development/)

## Related quotes

> [The truth is that painting is all about scale; you use scale to create experience. A lot of artists have lost that ability. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/the-truth-is-that-painting-is-all-about-scale-you-use-scale-to-create/)

[Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/)

> [On a scale of one to ten, how punk am I? Apple. I don't use your scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/on-a-scale-of-one-to-ten-how-punk-am-i-apple-i-don-t-use-your-scale/)

[Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/)

> [“Mindfulness works with continuous awareness of body, breath; feelings, thoughts, intentions. Our state of mind, our positive or negative attitude towards the world, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasa-pantovic-nuit/mindfulness-works-with-continuous-awareness-of-body-breath-feelings/)

[Natasa Pantovic Nuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasa-pantovic-nuit/)

> [We do have to use our minds as far as they will take us, yet acknowledging that they cannot take us all the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/we-do-have-to-use-our-minds-as-far-as-they-will-take-us-yet/)

[Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/)

> [“Instead of letting our emotions run amok with our minds, we can use our minds as tools that allow us to build realities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/instead-of-letting-our-emotions-run-amok-with-our-minds-we-can-use/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [The most powerful thing we have is our psyche. And to use our minds, we must be clear, vulnerable and open, which will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-busey/the-most-powerful-thing-we-have-is-our-psyche-and-to-use-our-minds-we/)

[Gary Busey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-busey/)

> [Use minds to solve problems, not lies and bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/use-minds-to-solve-problems-not-lies-and-bullets/)

[Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/)

> [If we are to use our minds rightly, we must live in an attitude of constant openness and learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/if-we-are-to-use-our-minds-rightly-we-must-live-in-an-attitude-of/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [“Instead of letting our emotions run amok, we can use our minds as tools to build or create realities that serve us better”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/instead-of-letting-our-emotions-run-amok-we-can-use-our-minds-as/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [I am convinced that every effort must be made in childhood to teach the young to use their own minds. For one thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-am-convinced-that-every-effort-must-be-made-in-childhood-to-teach/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [The Goal of Education is to Help People Use Their Minds Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/the-goal-of-education-is-to-help-people-use-their-minds-better/)

[Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/)

> [“People who don’t know how to use their minds can’t really know how to use their hearts either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/people-who-don-t-know-how-to-use-their-minds-can-t-really-know-how-to/)

[Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/)

> [Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/freethinkers-are-those-who-are-willing-to-use-their-minds-without-2/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/freethinkers-are-those-who-are-willing-to-use-their-minds-without/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“Awareness, when managed and directed, becomes attention. By turning into attention, awareness becomes localized, and attains a focal point. Because of this feature, attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/awareness-when-managed-and-directed-becomes-attention-by-turning-into/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

## More by Ilchi Lee

> [“Observing is not just seeing. It is watching with attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/observing-is-not-just-seeing-it-is-watching-with-attention/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Place your concentration in the center of your palm. Concentrate on making that part of your palm warmer than the rest of your hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/place-your-concentration-in-the-center-of-your-palm-concentrate-on/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Awareness, when managed and directed, becomes attention. By turning into attention, awareness becomes localized, and attains a focal point. Because of this feature, attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/awareness-when-managed-and-directed-becomes-attention-by-turning-into/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Our true reality is not a limited phenomenon, existing only between birth and death. It is eternal life that exists alone, self-existent and self-sufficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/our-true-reality-is-not-a-limited-phenomenon-existing-only-between/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“As a phenomenon, life has a beginning and ending, but life itself doesn’t. So, which one is truly me - a phenomenon that lasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/as-a-phenomenon-life-has-a-beginning-and-ending-but-life-itself-doesn/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Change is the very nature of Nature. if there's one thing that doesn't change, it is the fact that everything changes. In the Korean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/change-is-the-very-nature-of-nature-if-there-s-one-thing-that-doesn-t/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“The value of a human being depends on the quality of information held in his or her brain. Depending on whether that information is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/the-value-of-a-human-being-depends-on-the-quality-of-information-held/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Whatever path brought you here There is a reason why you came, Through you may not know it now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/whatever-path-brought-you-here-there-is-a-reason-why-you-came-through/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Everyday, Jay would sit under a giant elm tree and imagine the adventures his life might bring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/everyday-jay-would-sit-under-a-giant-elm-tree-and-imagine-the/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“It is important to realize that you are fundamentally made up of Life Particles, as is everyone else. Please realize that you, like everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/it-is-important-to-realize-that-you-are-fundamentally-made-up-of-life/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“My beloved Jay, remember me. Call my name every day. If you think of me and are with me, The infinite power of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/my-beloved-jay-remember-me-call-my-name-every-day-if-you-think-of-me/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“Do you have a dream? If you do, what is it? Is your dream similar to mine? I hope that even more people dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/do-you-have-a-dream-if-you-do-what-is-it-is-your-dream-similar-to/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“It's only natural to experience times that are difficult and painful, no matter who you are. those are times when anyone would feel tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/it-s-only-natural-to-experience-times-that-are-difficult-and-painful/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [Now is a time for change, a time to become the greatest version of yourself. And a time to to make your grandest vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/now-is-a-time-for-change-a-time-to-become-the-greatest-version-of/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [“How do we meditate? It is not thinking about the past or future. It starts with being present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/how-do-we-meditate-it-is-not-thinking-about-the-past-or-future-it/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

[Explore all 240 Ilchi Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

## More Emotional baggage quotes

> [“Forgiveness is the process of dropping off your emotional baggage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/forgiveness-is-the-process-of-dropping-off-your-emotional-baggage/)

[Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/)

> [“My job as a therapist is to help victims of trauma understand that they are not to blame. They are not responsible for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-stevens/my-job-as-a-therapist-is-to-help-victims-of-trauma-understand-that/)

[Michelle Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-stevens/)

> [All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will transmit it to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/all-great-spirituality-is-about-what-we-do-with-our-pain-if-we-do-not/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [“Emotional baggage,” which is carried over from the past, colors our perceptions. Likewise, past conclusions and beliefs, based on reasoning that may or may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-davey/emotional-baggage-which-is-carried-over-from-the-past-colors-our/)

[H.E. Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-davey/)

> [“On being Single. How many times have we heard people asking “So why are you single?” “Oh no! What happened!?” I haven’t heard anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mystqx-skye/on-being-single-how-many-times-have-we-heard-people-asking-so-why-are/)

[Mystqx Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mystqx-skye/)

> [“I want a real relationship, one without intimacy issues; without trust issues, but with all my emotional baggage, I don't know if that's possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/i-want-a-real-relationship-one-without-intimacy-issues-without-trust/)

[Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/)

> [“Mindfulness is continuous undisturbed awareness of the present moment. Fully aware of here, and now, we pay attention to what is happening right in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasa-pantovic-nuit/mindfulness-is-continuous-undisturbed-awareness-of-the-present-moment/)

[Natasa Pantovic Nuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasa-pantovic-nuit/)

> [They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing--these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/they-carried-all-the-emotional-baggage-of-men-who-might-die-grief/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [“When the weeks have built up with frustration and immense stress and one of your co-workers, a manager or an employee triggers irritation or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/when-the-weeks-have-built-up-with-frustration-and-immense-stress-and/)

[Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/)

> [For me, it's really easy to be kind to others when I remember that none of us came into this world with a manual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bolte-taylor/for-me-it-s-really-easy-to-be-kind-to-others-when-i-remember-that/)

[Jill Bolte Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bolte-taylor/)

> [“She called it baggage. "You're scared to open your suitcases and see what your mother packed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/she-called-it-baggage-you-re-scared-to-open-your-suitcases-and-see/)

[A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/)

> [First,stop slinking away from all those nagging issues. It's time to face the music!, now just relax.take some deep breaths (in through the nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-g/first-stop-slinking-away-from-all-those-nagging-issues-it-s-time-to/)

Jeremy G

> [“Simply put, your pain body is the same thing as your unresolved emotional baggage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-carrigan/simply-put-your-pain-body-is-the-same-thing-as-your-unresolved/)

[Catherine Carrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-carrigan/)

> [A lot of people assume that women of a certain age who are not unattractive have no excuse for not having a perfect life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/a-lot-of-people-assume-that-women-of-a-certain-age-who-are-not/)

[Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/)

> [Dont spend precious time pondering the past. Leave your old emotional baggage behind, embrace the present and celebrate your existence with a blast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/dont-spend-precious-time-pondering-the-past-leave-your-old-emotional/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

[Browse all 49 Emotional baggage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-baggage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We use our minds in a way similar to how we use a scale - it tells us its worth, its value. But what if the scale has not been accurately recalibrated to zero? What if you had forgotten to remove mental and emotional baggage?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ilchi Lee"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how-we-use-a-scale-it-tells-us/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Emotional baggage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how-we-use-a-scale-it-tells-us/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/ilchi-lee-1445_emotional-baggage_we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how_189716.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We use our minds in a way similar to how we use a scale - it tells us its worth, its value. But what if the…” — Ilchi Lee",
                "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": "Ilchi Lee",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We use our minds in a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how-we-use-a-scale-it-tells-us/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/we-use-our-minds-in-a-way-similar-to-how-we-use-a-scale-it-tells-us/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
