---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am…"
description: "\"“TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am I awake?,” “Where is my mind right now?”\" — Jon Kabat-Zinn"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png"
---

#  TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am I awake?,” “Where…

![“TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am I awake?,” “Where is my mind right now?” quote by Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png)

> ““TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am I awake?,” “Where is my mind right now?””

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

## About This Quote

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

The practice encourages present-moment awareness by questioning one's state of wakefulness and mental focus.

**In simple terms:** Ask yourself if you are truly present and where your thoughts are.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate mindfulness through self‑inquiry.

Themes

mindfulness awareness self‑reflection

Mood

calm introspective

Type

mindfulness self‑help

When to use this quote

- stress reduction
- creative work
- daily routines
- therapy

Key Concepts

Buddhist meditation psychological presence

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “awake” mean to you now?
- How often do you notice your mind’s wandering?

A Different Perspective

It can be challenging to maintain focus amid distractions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Asking Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-moment-1366550/) [Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/) [Awake Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake-mind-2139115/) [Moment Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-awake-2637515/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-asking-1211822/)

## Related quotes

> [The golden moment when I’m not yet awake enough to remember that there are things I would rather forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-sones/the-golden-moment-when-i-m-not-yet-awake-enough-to-remember-that/)

[Sonya Sones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-sones/)

> [“The moment you awake ,you know the mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-moment-you-awake-you-know-the-mystery-of-life/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“Let me in.' 'Come to the door.' You always demanding like that? No wonder she isn't answering. Try asking sometime. Not all women will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/let-me-in-come-to-the-door-you-always-demanding-like-that-no-wonder/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [“I try asking him some more questions, but it's like talking to voice mail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-montoure/i-try-asking-him-some-more-questions-but-it-s-like-talking-to-voice/)

[Michael Montoure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-montoure/)

> [Try asking sometime. Not all women will stand for that 50 Shades crap, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/try-asking-sometime-not-all-women-will-stand-for-that-50-shades-crap/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [If you dislike the answers you’re getting from life, try asking better questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/if-you-dislike-the-answers-you-re-getting-from-life-try-asking-better/)

[Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/)

> [In this state of inner connectedness, you are much more alert, more awake than in the mind-identified state. You are fully present. It also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/in-this-state-of-inner-connectedness-you-are-much-more-alert-more/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [Those golden minutes before you are completely awake, when your mind is just drifting, you have no censorship; you are ready to develop any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/those-golden-minutes-before-you-are-completely-awake-when-your-mind/)

[Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/)

> [“When you are awake, your mind is limited. When you are dreaming, your mind is unlimited. Creation is a genius. The mind is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/when-you-are-awake-your-mind-is-limited-when-you-are-dreaming-your/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“Contemplating this suffering which is unbearable to us, and is unbearable to others, too, can produce awake mind, which arises from the compassion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/contemplating-this-suffering-which-is-unbearable-to-us-and-is/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“you're never alone when you are reading books. Reading awake your mind,enlighten your life and enrich your knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-never-alone-when-you-are-reading-books-reading-awake-your-mind/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“When you encounter another person, when you have dealings with anyone at all, it is as if a question is being put to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/when-you-encounter-another-person-when-you-have-dealings-with-anyone-2/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [“When you encounter another person, when you have dealings with anyone at all, it is as if a question is being put to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/when-you-encounter-another-person-when-you-have-dealings-with-anyone-3/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [“What is the Lord asking of me in this moment, in this situation?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/what-is-the-lord-asking-of-me-in-this-moment-in-this-situation/)

[Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/)

> [When you encounter another person, when you have dealings with anyone at all, it is as if a question is being put to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/when-you-encounter-another-person-when-you-have-dealings-with-anyone/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

## More by Jon Kabat-Zinn

> [Karma is often wrongly confused with the notion of a fixed destiny. It is more like an accumulation of tendencies that can lock us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/karma-is-often-wrongly-confused-with-the-notion-of-a-fixed-destiny-it/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Living in a chronic state of unawareness can cause us to miss much of what is most beautiful and meaningful in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/living-in-a-chronic-state-of-unawareness-can-cause-us-to-miss-much-of/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/mindfulness-means-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness-it-is/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Paying attention and awareness are universal capacities of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/paying-attention-and-awareness-are-universal-capacities-of-human/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“One practical way to do this is to look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/one-practical-way-to-do-this-is-to-look-at-other-people-and-ask/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [I thought it was a stroke of genius that Hans Selye used the word stress, because it's true that if you don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/i-thought-it-was-a-stroke-of-genius-that-hans-selye-used-the-word/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“dwell in stillness and to observe without reacting and without judging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/dwell-in-stillness-and-to-observe-without-reacting-and-without-judging/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [The little things? The little moments? They aren't little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/the-little-things-the-little-moments-they-aren-t-little/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Arriving someplace more desirable at some future time is an illusion. This is it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/arriving-someplace-more-desirable-at-some-future-time-is-an-illusion/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/give-yourself-permission-to-allow-this-moment-to-be-exactly-as-it-is/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice. You might experiment with using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non-2/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Science gave me a cosmic religious feeling, and I would get the same feeling when I was dragged to the Met and the Museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/science-gave-me-a-cosmic-religious-feeling-and-i-would-get-the-same/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your thoughts about them… Without knowing it, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/look-at-other-people-and-ask-yourself-if-you-are-really-seeing-them/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“In fact, even if distraction does alleviate your pain or help to cope with it some of the time, bringing mindfulness to it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/in-fact-even-if-distraction-does-alleviate-your-pain-or-help-to-cope/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

[Explore all 252 Jon Kabat-Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

## More Awake quotes

> [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/)

[Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/)

> [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [“I had a chat with May and I had a sweet talk with April but the lovely conversation that left me to ponder was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/i-had-a-chat-with-may-and-i-had-a-sweet-talk-with-april-but-the/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [Hopes are dreams of those who are awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hopes-are-dreams-of-those-who-are-awake/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [Wherever I went I felt like the last person awake in a room full of sleepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/wherever-i-went-i-felt-like-the-last-person-awake-in-a-room-full-of/)

[Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/)

> [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/)

> [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [“Think of it this way, Mara. We don’t have the power to make the sun rise, but we can choose to be awake when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-garlough-brown/think-of-it-this-way-mara-we-don-t-have-the-power-to-make-the-sun/)

[Sharon Garlough Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-garlough-brown/)

> [“The owl,” he was saying, “is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-rose/the-owl-he-was-saying-is-one-of-the-most-curious-creatures-a-bird/)

[M.J. Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-rose/)

> [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/)

[Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/)

> [Shall we keep men in a fool's paradise? Shall we lull them into soft slumbers from which they will awake in hell? Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/shall-we-keep-men-in-a-fool-s-paradise-shall-we-lull-them-into-soft/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

[Browse all 1,663 Awake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am I awake?,” “Where is my mind right now?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jon Kabat-Zinn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i-awake-where-is-my-mind-right/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Awake"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i-awake-where-is-my-mind-right/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awake_try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i_1067064.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“TRY: Asking yourself in this moment, “Am I awake?,” “Where is my mind right now?” — Jon Kabat-Zinn",
                "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": "Jon Kabat-Zinn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“TRY: Asking yourself in this moment,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i-awake-where-is-my-mind-right/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/try-asking-yourself-in-this-moment-am-i-awake-where-is-my-mind-right/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
