--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rather than thinking in terms of good and…" description: "\"“Rather than thinking in terms of good and bad, it is more helpful to think in terms of conscious and unconscious, aware, and unaware.”\" — Joan Borysenko" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg" --- # Rather than thinking in terms of good and bad, it is more… ![“Rather than thinking in terms of good and bad, it is more helpful to think in terms of conscious and unconscious, aware, and unaware.” quote by Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg) > ““Rather than thinking in terms of good and bad, it is more helpful to think in terms of conscious and unconscious, aware, and unaware.”” [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishing conscious from unconscious processes clarifies behavior better than moral labels. **In simple terms:** Think in terms of awareness, not good or bad. Key Takeaway Focus on increasing awareness. Themes psychology mindfulness self-awareness Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal development - conflict resolution - decision making Key Concepts consciousness unconscious bias cognitive psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify unconscious influences? - What practices increase conscious awareness? A Different Perspective Awareness alone may not change entrenched habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We're finally becoming aware of a process that has been unconscious since human experience began. From the start, humans have perceived a Birth Vision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-redfield/we-re-finally-becoming-aware-of-a-process-that-has-been-unconscious/) [James Redfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-redfield/) > [My favorite question is 'Why?' I think it can be really helpful - I also think it can be annoying to people at times;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marne-levine/my-favorite-question-is-why-i-think-it-can-be-really-helpful-i-also/) [Marne Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marne-levine/) > [Above and beyond looking after your physical needs, it can be very helpful to think about what activities and hobbies make you smile. Make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-moss/above-and-beyond-looking-after-your-physical-needs-it-can-be-very/) [Tara Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-moss/) > [I don't go through life thinking I'm on a conveyer belt I can't jump off, but sometimes it's helpful to think that things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-levine/i-don-t-go-through-life-thinking-i-m-on-a-conveyer-belt-i-can-t-jump/) [Alice Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-levine/) > [“Be helpful after you think, be smart before you create your own personality and be thoughtful after making friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahmid-hassan-prohor/be-helpful-after-you-think-be-smart-before-you-create-your-own/) [Fahmid Hassan Prohor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahmid-hassan-prohor/) > [It is... very helpful to think of adversity not so much as a threat to our peace of mind but rather as the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-very-helpful-to-think-of-adversity-not-so-much-as-a-threat-to/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn't try to run their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-talked-to-the-players-and-tried-to-make-them-aware-of-what-was-good/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [you cannot make a person believe anything unless that person has already had a conscious or unconscious vision of the same thing; you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwethalyn-graham/you-cannot-make-a-person-believe-anything-unless-that-person-has/) [Gwethalyn Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwethalyn-graham/) > [Each act of denial, conscious or unconscious, is an abdication of our power to respond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-act-of-denial-conscious-or-unconscious-is-an-abdication-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [... of the two kinds of order, the conscious and the unconscious order, only one is real. It's the order in the deep hidden places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ashton-warner/of-the-two-kinds-of-order-the-conscious-and-the-unconscious-order/) [Sylvia Ashton-Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ashton-warner/) > [The physical universe expresses the conscious and unconscious thoughts of mortals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/the-physical-universe-expresses-the-conscious-and-unconscious/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [Art is a marriage of the conscious and the unconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/art-is-a-marriage-of-the-conscious-and-the-unconscious/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [If the desire to get somewhere is strong enough in a person, his whole being, conscious and unconscious, is always at work, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-philip-grove/if-the-desire-to-get-somewhere-is-strong-enough-in-a-person-his-whole/) Frederick Philip Grove > [Conscious and unconscious experiences do not belong to different compartments of the mind; they form a continuous scale of gradations, of degrees of awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/conscious-and-unconscious-experiences-do-not-belong-to-different/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The creative union of the conscious with the unconscious is what one usually calls 'inspiration.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/the-creative-union-of-the-conscious-with-the-unconscious-is-what-one/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) ## More by Joan Borysenko > [“For this is the vision that unites all seven paths and creates the rainbow bridge to a new earth and a new heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/for-this-is-the-vision-that-unites-all-seven-paths-and-creates-the/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [ “psychic healers that practice in the Phillippines \[sic\] \[are\] able to reach through a person’s energy body and pull out diseased tissue as an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/psychic-healers-that-practice-in-the-phillippines-sic-are-able-to/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“There is a nearly unerring, unconscious radar that zeros in on relationships that repeat our childhood experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/there-is-a-nearly-unerring-unconscious-radar-that-zeros-in-on/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“When will and intention are developed through living a disciplined life, according to rules that we consider a divine template for right living, tremendous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/when-will-and-intention-are-developed-through-living-a-disciplined/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“In indigenous cultures including those of Native Americans, menstruation is viewed a time of positive power, rather than evidence of sin and negative power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/in-indigenous-cultures-including-those-of-native-americans/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“the thymus regulates the boundary between earth and heaven”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/the-thymus-regulates-the-boundary-between-earth-and-heaven/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“You are at my side, dear friends, and God is everywhere. Yet ultimately we are alone, making our way home by the candle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/you-are-at-my-side-dear-friends-and-god-is-everywhere-yet-ultimately/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/the-question-is-not-whether-we-will-die-but-how-we-will-live/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [ “The source of healing power \[is, first\] the healer’s own adrenal glands. And the adrenals are indeed the furnace that generates lifeforce energy.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/the-source-of-healing-power-is-first-the-healer-s-own-adrenal-glands/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“Lifeforce energy is distributed through the body by seven chakras or energy transformers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/lifeforce-energy-is-distributed-through-the-body-by-seven-chakras-or/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [ “How can rape, murder, war, and illness be loving acts? \[...\] all events happen for the greater good, that nothing is accidental or without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/how-can-rape-murder-war-and-illness-be-loving-acts-all-events-happen/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) > [“For, without the knowledge of love, fear is all that remains, and we can never feel safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/for-without-the-knowledge-of-love-fear-is-all-that-remains-and-we-can/) [Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) [Explore all 13 Joan Borysenko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/) ## More Aware quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm trying to be very aware of not repeating myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/i-m-trying-to-be-very-aware-of-not-repeating-myself/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [“Whenever you're around her she's calm. She's more aware. It's like you carry a frequency she can tune into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-laurens/whenever-you-re-around-her-she-s-calm-she-s-more-aware-it-s-like-you/) [Jennifer Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-laurens/) > [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Once I get out onstage, it's the same sort of basic production that it is anywhere else. But I might be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/once-i-get-out-onstage-it-s-the-same-sort-of-basic-production-that-it/) [Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/) > [Museums, I think, are becoming more and more aware of how to turn themselves into a must-see spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-barton/museums-i-think-are-becoming-more-and-more-aware-of-how-to-turn/) [Jake Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-barton/) > [“The more you become aware of and respond to the needs of others, the richer your own life becomes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/the-more-you-become-aware-of-and-respond-to-the-needs-of-others-the/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) Browse all 1,138 Aware quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Rather than thinking in terms of good and bad, it is more helpful to think in terms of conscious and unconscious, aware, and unaware.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan Borysenko" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-and-bad-it-is-more-helpful-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aware" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-and-bad-it-is-more-helpful-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/joan-borysenko-35411_aware_rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-an_1652757.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rather than thinking in terms of good and bad, it is more helpful to think in terms of conscious and…” — Joan Borysenko", "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": "Joan Borysenko", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-borysenko/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Rather than thinking in terms of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-and-bad-it-is-more-helpful-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-borysenko/rather-than-thinking-in-terms-of-good-and-bad-it-is-more-helpful-to/#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 } } ] } ```