--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since the earliest period of our life was…" description: "\"“Since the earliest period of our life was preverbal, everything depended on emotional interaction. Without someone to reflect our emotions, we had no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/john-bradshaw-2227_identity_since-the-earliest-period-of-our-life-wa_2531247.jpg" --- # Since the earliest period of our life was preverbal… ![“Since the earliest period of our life was preverbal, everything depended on emotional interaction. Without someone to reflect our emotions, we had no way of knowing who we were. Mirroring remains important during our entire lives. Think of the frustrating experience, which most of us have had, of…” quote by John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/john-bradshaw-2227_identity_since-the-earliest-period-of-our-life-wa_2531247.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/john-bradshaw-2227_identity_since-the-earliest-period-of-our-life-wa_2531247.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/john-bradshaw-2227_identity_since-the-earliest-period-of-our-life-wa_2531247.jpg) > ““Since the earliest period of our life was preverbal, everything depended on emotional interaction. Without someone to reflect our emotions, we had no way of knowing who we were. Mirroring remains important during our entire lives. Think of the frustrating experience, which most of us have had, of talking to someone who is not looking at us. While you are speaking, they are fidgeting around or reading something. Our identity demands a significant other whose eyes see us pretty much as we see ourselves. In fact, Erik Erikson defines identity as interpersonal. In Childhood and Society he writes: The sense of ego identity is the accrued confidence that the inner sameness and continuity . . . are matched by the sameness and continuity of one’s meaning for others.”” [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity forms through early emotional mirroring; without others reflecting our feelings we lack self‑knowledge, and this need persists throughout life. **In simple terms:** We need others to reflect our emotions to know ourselves. Key Takeaway Seek deep, attentive relationships. Themes identity emotional development mirroring self‑knowledge Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - parent‑child bonding - therapy sessions - team communication - friendship building Key Concepts psychology developmental theory interpersonal identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you feel when truly seen? - What relationships reflect your true self? A Different Perspective If mirrors are distorted, self‑image may become inaccurate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [It's our landscape which defines our identity and it's what I'm most grateful for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-dodson/it-s-our-landscape-which-defines-our-identity-and-it-s-what-i-m-most/) [Mick Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-dodson/) > [What makes me myself rather than anyone else is the very fact that I am poised between two countries, two or three languages, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amin-maalouf/what-makes-me-myself-rather-than-anyone-else-is-the-very-fact-that-i/) [Amin Maalouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amin-maalouf/) > [The better teachers recognize that by freeing yourself of the rigid ego identity habit, you actually strengthen the resilient, flexible, creative ego, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/the-better-teachers-recognize-that-by-freeing-yourself-of-the-rigid/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [Children cannot be fooled by empty praise and condescending encouragement. 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Our identity demands a significant other whose eyes see us pretty much as we see ourselves. In fact, Erik Erikson defines identity as interpersonal. 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