--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Layer by layer I removed all I thought I…" description: "\"“Layer by layer I removed all I thought I was, all I thought I had to be and in the moment I was left standing naked and vulnerable without identities ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg" --- # Layer by layer I removed all I thought I was, all I… ![“Layer by layer I removed all I thought I was, all I thought I had to be and in the moment I was left standing naked and vulnerable without identities and labels, I remembered, I AM THAT I AM…” quote by Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg) > ““Layer by layer I removed all I thought I was, all I thought I had to be and in the moment I was left standing naked and vulnerable without identities and labels, I remembered, I AM THAT I AM…”” [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shedding all labels reveals a vulnerable core, reminding us of our essential, timeless identity. **In simple terms:** Removing labels exposes our true self, “I AM THAT I AM.” Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability, recognize your core self. Themes identity vulnerability spirituality Mood introspective calm Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - therapy - creative work - self‑discovery Key Concepts psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What labels limit you? - How does being “naked” feel? A Different Perspective Vulnerability can feel unsafe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [People who wear glasses, without them they always look unfocused, vulnerable. Out in the open. A layer removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/people-who-wear-glasses-without-them-they-always-look-unfocused/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“Thought is an acid, eating us away. At first we imagine it will only eat into that which is rotten and sick and must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-s-derberg/thought-is-an-acid-eating-us-away-at-first-we-imagine-it-will-only/) [Hjalmar Söderberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-s-derberg/) > [“I write so the endangered thoughts roaming naked and vulnerable through the misty jungles of my mind aren't slain by the guns of practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-krizan/i-write-so-the-endangered-thoughts-roaming-naked-and-vulnerable/) Kim Krizan > [“Their pretensions are naked and vulnerable and for that reason, to me at least, rather charming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/their-pretensions-are-naked-and-vulnerable-and-for-that-reason-to-me/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [To love is to be vulnerable: if God loves, then God is mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cupitt/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-if-god-loves-then-god-is-mortal/) [Don Cupitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cupitt/) > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [She's lonely and wounded and very vulnerable and it really is a story about people at the heart of it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/she-s-lonely-and-wounded-and-very-vulnerable-and-it-really-is-a-story/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [“She had just started living like a grown-up and she'd never felt more vulnerable, frightened or confused in her life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/she-had-just-started-living-like-a-grown-up-and-she-d-never-felt-more/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-you-really-need-help-people-will-respond-sincerity-means/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“If she wanted this man to trust her, to open up to her, she would have to strip every last piece of herself away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/if-she-wanted-this-man-to-trust-her-to-open-up-to-her-she-would-have/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [I think being vulnerable paves the way for humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sadowski/i-think-being-vulnerable-paves-the-way-for-humility/) [Jonathan Sadowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sadowski/) > [As a new mother, you're so vulnerable and make mistakes all the time. I guess there's more pressure when you're in the public eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-marais/as-a-new-mother-you-re-so-vulnerable-and-make-mistakes-all-the-time-i/) [Jessica Marais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-marais/) > [It's shocking when someone who is really bad thinks they're really good. It's heartbreaking, because singing is such a vulnerable thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-camp/it-s-shocking-when-someone-who-is-really-bad-thinks-they-re-really/) [Anna Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-camp/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) ## More by Lenita Vangellis > [“Some will see your flame and want to blow it out...others will approach with a candle...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/some-will-see-your-flame-and-want-to-blow-it-out-others-will-approach/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“In a space devoid of ego you can feel the breath of God...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/in-a-space-devoid-of-ego-you-can-feel-the-breath-of-god/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“When you understand the perfection in "your story" you can stop telling it!...until then you will tell your story to anyone that will listen...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/when-you-understand-the-perfection-in-your-story-you-can-stop-telling/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“THIS IS THE PARADOX...Being fearless is scary...as you embrace the calling of your heart you are stripped of all false comfort often left with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/this-is-the-paradox-being-fearless-is-scary-as-you-embrace-the/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“-Love is so much easier than the alternative...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/love-is-so-much-easier-than-the-alternative/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“When we expand our perception of this awesome planet and universe, human drama becomes so insignificant!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/when-we-expand-our-perception-of-this-awesome-planet-and-universe/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“Sometimes what we perceive as a tragedy is really the most precious gift wrapped in really crappy paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/sometimes-what-we-perceive-as-a-tragedy-is-really-the-most-precious/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“Those that are worthy of your attention do not scream out loud and proclaim to the world how amazing they are. They draw you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/those-that-are-worthy-of-your-attention-do-not-scream-out-loud-and/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“I have observed the more insecure and wounded one is, the bigger the identity one creates!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/i-have-observed-the-more-insecure-and-wounded-one-is-the-bigger-the/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“Instead of looking for the rainbow...paint it yourself..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/instead-of-looking-for-the-rainbow-paint-it-yourself/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“Falling apart and being dismantled is an awesome opportunity to come together as a faster upgraded version of yourself...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/falling-apart-and-being-dismantled-is-an-awesome-opportunity-to-come/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“I am grateful that I don’t rely on my eyes to see I feel you in the darkest moments You are the gentle breeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/i-am-grateful-that-i-don-t-rely-on-my-eyes-to-see-i-feel-you-in-the/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“There is a prison that we all have to break free from...It’s called I, ME, MY, MINE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/there-is-a-prison-that-we-all-have-to-break-free-from-it-s-called-i/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“When you can stand in the midst of madness and be at peace...you’re onto something...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/when-you-can-stand-in-the-midst-of-madness-and-be-at-peace-you-re/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [“Always remain open..Just when you are convinced something is red, it starts turning blue...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/always-remain-open-just-when-you-are-convinced-something-is-red-it/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) [Explore all 29 Lenita Vangellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) ## More Identity quotes > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [“Self-realization or self-knowing or awakening is about knowing/ becoming conscious of our true nature and living in harmony with the universe in an ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/self-realization-or-self-knowing-or-awakening-is-about-knowing/) [Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/) > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Why were there no words that spoke positively about being concerned about the self? Why was there only negative connotation in terms like "selfish",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-dalton/why-were-there-no-words-that-spoke-positively-about-being-concerned/) A.J. Dalton [Browse all 11,949 Identity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Layer by layer I removed all I thought I was, all I thought I had to be and in the moment I was left standing naked and vulnerable without identities and labels, I remembered, I AM THAT I AM…”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lenita Vangellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i-was-all-i-thought-i-had-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Identity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i-was-all-i-thought-i-had-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/lenita-vangellis-21305_identity_layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i_1286398.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Layer by layer I removed all I thought I was, all I thought I had to be and in the moment I was left…” — Lenita Vangellis", "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": "Lenita Vangellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Layer by layer I removed all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i-was-all-i-thought-i-had-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/layer-by-layer-i-removed-all-i-thought-i-was-all-i-thought-i-had-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 } } ] } ```