--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let go of your small self and become your…" description: "\"“Let go of your small self and become your true self.”\" — Kazuaki Tanahashi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png" --- # Let go of your small self and become your true self. ![“Let go of your small self and become your true self.” quote by Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png) > ““Let go of your small self and become your true self.”” [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages shedding egoic limits to reveal authentic potential **In simple terms:** Let go of ego, become authentic Key Takeaway Release limiting self, embrace true self Themes self‑discovery authenticity personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - therapy - creative work - spiritual practice - leadership development Key Concepts ego dissolution mindfulness self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your identity limit you? - How can you balance self‑acceptance with growth? A Different Perspective May overlook practical responsibilities when focusing solely on self‑realization ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-yourself/) [Let Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-small-793498/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-true-447938/) [Small Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-self-849172/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/) ## Related quotes > [You must look within yourself to save yourself from other self. 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Happiness is inborn in the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-world-is-so-unhappy-because-it-is-ignorant-of-the-true-self-man-s/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Be honest to yourself & follow your dreams.Stay true to yourself because its only you who will make dream true for self.Being true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/be-honest-to-yourself-follow-your-dreams-stay-true-to-yourself/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [It is not the body, nor the personality that is the true self. The true self is eternal. Even on the point of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/it-is-not-the-body-nor-the-personality-that-is-the-true-self-the-true/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent, and yet there is still clearly an overarching destiny, a Great Maker. So when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-can-believe-we-are-being-self-reliant-and-independent-and-yet/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [“I will still feel some importance in altering the room, because there you were, the pastiche of some lovely distant star as I surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-burkard/i-will-still-feel-some-importance-in-altering-the-room-because-there/) [Michael Burkard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-burkard/) > [“Fortunately, all you have to get rid of is the illusion. People think they have to get rid of the small self in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-esmann/fortunately-all-you-have-to-get-rid-of-is-the-illusion-people-think/) [Jan Esmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-esmann/) > [To live and breathe with an exclusive focus on one's small self, disconnected from the whole, is the definition of egotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-live-and-breathe-with-an-exclusive-focus-on-one-s-small-self/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [Fling away your soul once for all, your own small self; if you will find it again. Count not even on immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/fling-away-your-soul-once-for-all-your-own-small-self-if-you-will/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [I'd like to get something small and self-generated in before Black Rock has whatever life that it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-d-like-to-get-something-small-and-self-generated-in-before-black/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered our world is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/our-prayers-may-be-an-index-of-how-small-and-self-centered-our-world/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The self of which you speak, whether it is the great self or the small self, is only a concept that does not correspond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-self-of-which-you-speak-whether-it-is-the-great-self-or-the-small/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More by Kazuaki Tanahashi > [I think Dogen can be a very good introduction for people who want to meditate in whatever way, whether it's yoga, qigong, or Tibetan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/i-think-dogen-can-be-a-very-good-introduction-for-people-who-want-to/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [The circle is a reminder that each moment is not just the present, but is inclusive of our gratitude to the past and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/the-circle-is-a-reminder-that-each-moment-is-not-just-the-present-but/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [To be thoroughly lazy is a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Industrious people build industry. Lazy people build civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/to-be-thoroughly-lazy-is-a-tough-job-but-somebody-has-to-do-it/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [The enso contains the perfect and imperfect; that is why it is always complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/the-enso-contains-the-perfect-and-imperfect-that-is-why-it-is-always/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [“We are the visible and invisible effect of limitless karma — individual and collective social actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/we-are-the-visible-and-invisible-effect-of-limitless-karma-individual/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [In Dogen's writing, the practical instruction, philosophy and poetry are together in one voice. People hear about his poetry, go to his work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/in-dogen-s-writing-the-practical-instruction-philosophy-and-poetry/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [Each moment is a miracle encompassing everything: the joy and sorrow, the failure and success, the disappointment and happiness, the celebration and grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/each-moment-is-a-miracle-encompassing-everything-the-joy-and-sorrow/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [If you are under control, you lose the danger of glimpsing an unknown realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/if-you-are-under-control-you-lose-the-danger-of-glimpsing-an-unknown/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [As soon as you accept the accidental effects, they are no longer accidents. They are necessity the part of yourself that you could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/as-soon-as-you-accept-the-accidental-effects-they-are-no-longer/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [A painting works only on the edge of not working. Then what is ungraspable comes near.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/a-painting-works-only-on-the-edge-of-not-working-then-what-is/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [What pleases our mind is not dangerous enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/what-pleases-our-mind-is-not-dangerous-enough/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [We usually evaluate creative process in terms of how much feeling or thinking was behind the work or how well the work was done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/we-usually-evaluate-creative-process-in-terms-of-how-much-feeling-or/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [If you learn to enjoy waiting, you don't have to wait to enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/if-you-learn-to-enjoy-waiting-you-don-t-have-to-wait-to-enjoy/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) [Explore all 14 Kazuaki Tanahashi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) ## More Be yourself quotes > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I does wat I does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-does-wat-i-does/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Change nothing, just be yourself to experience peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/change-nothing-just-be-yourself-to-experience-peace/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level. It will only excite them more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-badly-people-treat-you-never-drop-down-to-their-level/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Why is it that anyone can pretend to be someone there not and never be someone they are?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akeem/why-is-it-that-anyone-can-pretend-to-be-someone-there-not-and-never/) [Akeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akeem/) > [You can never change the Past, not control the future. But, you can change the mood of the day, by touching someone's Heart with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/you-can-never-change-the-past-not-control-the-future-but-you-can/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Just be you. Do what you love. I've learned that in the end, you can't make everyone happy no matter what you say or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/just-be-you-do-what-you-love-i-ve-learned-that-in-the-end-you-can-t/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Nothing has power over you unless you allow it. No matter what happens, you can choose what and how to think, act, and speak!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-has-power-over-you-unless-you-allow-it-no-matter-what-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm might not be the best , I might not be strongest or the fastest or the smart ,but I'm sure as hades ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/i-m-might-not-be-the-best-i-might-not-be-strongest-or-the-fastest-or/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [I'm not a person to judge but I really don't care for people that follow I love the ones that want to lead unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-brown/i-m-not-a-person-to-judge-but-i-really-don-t-care-for-people-that/) [Jordan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-brown/) [Browse all 2,115 Be yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Let go of your small self and become your true self.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kazuaki Tanahashi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-your-true-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-your-true-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/kazuaki-tanahashi-34706_be-yourself_let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-you_796284.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let go of your small self and become your true self.” — Kazuaki Tanahashi", "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": "Kazuaki Tanahashi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Let go of your small self...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-your-true-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-your-true-self/#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 } } ] } ```