--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and…" description: "\"“I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and looked at myself for the first time in a long time. Only, I did not cast a judgmental glare upon myself. I l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/mandy-ingber-7123_first-time_i-took-a-deep-breath-opened-my-eyes-and_1648543.jpg" --- # I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and looked at myself… ![“I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and looked at myself for the first time in a long time. Only, I did not cast a judgmental glare upon myself. I looked with love and acceptance.” quote by Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/mandy-ingber-7123_first-time_i-took-a-deep-breath-opened-my-eyes-and_1648543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/mandy-ingber-7123_first-time_i-took-a-deep-breath-opened-my-eyes-and_1648543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/mandy-ingber-7123_first-time_i-took-a-deep-breath-opened-my-eyes-and_1648543.jpg) > ““I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and looked at myself for the first time in a long time. Only, I did not cast a judgmental glare upon myself. I looked with love and acceptance.”” [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker practiced self‑compassion by observing herself without judgment, fostering love and acceptance. **In simple terms:** Seeing oneself kindly replaces criticism. Key Takeaway Cultivate non‑judgmental self‑awareness. Themes self‑care mindfulness acceptance growth emotional health self‑love Mood calm hopeful introspective Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - therapy session - daily meditation - journaling - stress relief - confidence building Key Concepts self‑compassion mindful observation inner dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑acceptance change behavior? - What practices help maintain non‑judgmental awareness? A Different Perspective Self‑judgment can hinder personal development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) [Love and acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-acceptance/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I took a deep breath, held that scent in my lungs for long seconds as I tried to inhale the normalcy that made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-deebs/i-took-a-deep-breath-held-that-scent-in-my-lungs-for-long-seconds-as/) [Tracy Deebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-deebs/) > [“I took a deep breath. “Okay. What do I have to do?” “Unless you plan on creating a door and walking the Paths alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/i-took-a-deep-breath-okay-what-do-i-have-to-do-unless-you-plan-on/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“He took a deep breath and threw his head back,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-prowse/he-took-a-deep-breath-and-threw-his-head-back/) [Amanda Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-prowse/) > [“Corey fell in love with someone else.” He took a deep breath, looking down at Doug. “And so did I.” Doug”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darien-cox/corey-fell-in-love-with-someone-else-he-took-a-deep-breath-looking/) [Darien Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darien-cox/) > [“after tomorrow at the latest.” He took a deep breath and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-grace/after-tomorrow-at-the-latest-he-took-a-deep-breath-and/) Terri Grace > [“Kendril looked down at the ground by one of the tent sides. He took a deep breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cassidy/kendril-looked-down-at-the-ground-by-one-of-the-tent-sides-he-took-a/) Ben Cassidy > [“I want you, Say. So fucking much. More than I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone before.” He took a deep breath like he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-frazier/i-want-you-say-so-fucking-much-more-than-i-ve-ever-wanted-anything-or/) [T.M. Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-frazier/) > [“She took a deep breath and inhaled as much of the dust of paper and ink as she could and wished she could disappear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-guillebeau/she-took-a-deep-breath-and-inhaled-as-much-of-the-dust-of-paper-and/) Michael Guillebeau > [“Fuck yeah!" She took a deep breath. "I mean—this is the path we must walk, for to reach light and wisdom one must first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-arenson/fuck-yeah-she-took-a-deep-breath-i-mean-this-is-the-path-we-must-walk/) [Daniel Arenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-arenson/) > [I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and filled myself up with the breeze from the valley. Then I let it out slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/i-closed-my-eyes-took-a-deep-breath-and-filled-myself-up-with-the/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [I took a deep breath, 'I took the nahlrout because I didn't want to faint. I needed to let them know they couldn't hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-took-a-deep-breath-i-took-the-nahlrout-because-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“He took a deep breath. “I’m a weak man, Navani. I really am. If I give myself a few feet of leeway, I burst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/he-took-a-deep-breath-i-m-a-weak-man-navani-i-really-am-if-i-give/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I took a deep breath , inhaled , this love in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-took-a-deep-breath-inhaled-this-love-in-the-air/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [“ So you do believe in... true love? she whispered. I took a deep breath, I think I have to, I said, blinking back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/so-you-do-believe-in-true-love-she-whispered-i-took-a-deep-breath-i/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [Lara walked along the tracks following a path worn by pilgrims and then turned into the fields. Here she stopped and, closing her eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/lara-walked-along-the-tracks-following-a-path-worn-by-pilgrims-and/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) ## More by Mandy Ingber > [What I do is I'm trying to bridge the gap between yoga and fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/what-i-do-is-i-m-trying-to-bridge-the-gap-between-yoga-and-fitness/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [I have found that most meal plans will work, simply because it causes us to become more aware as we eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/i-have-found-that-most-meal-plans-will-work-simply-because-it-causes/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Twenty-eight days is what is takes to break a habit and to implement a new set of habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/twenty-eight-days-is-what-is-takes-to-break-a-habit-and-to-implement/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [When your chest is open, and you're breathing deeply, it lifts your spirits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/when-your-chest-is-open-and-you-re-breathing-deeply-it-lifts-your/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [I think that whenever we're physical, not just in yoga, I think that physical exercise brings up a lot of emotional things. If someone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/i-think-that-whenever-we-re-physical-not-just-in-yoga-i-think-that/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [I liked school. I was creative and artistic and fit into most groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/i-liked-school-i-was-creative-and-artistic-and-fit-into-most-groups/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Cardio activity burns fat, and when you burn fat while building muscle, you change the ratio of stored fat to lean muscle mass, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/cardio-activity-burns-fat-and-when-you-burn-fat-while-building-muscle/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Staying present in a high-pressure situation where you have so much coming at you is gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/staying-present-in-a-high-pressure-situation-where-you-have-so-much/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Any pose that is an arch will open the chest cavity and is excellent for energizing the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/any-pose-that-is-an-arch-will-open-the-chest-cavity-and-is-excellent/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Have gratitude for all that you have, and you can be happy exactly as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/have-gratitude-for-all-that-you-have-and-you-can-be-happy-exactly-as/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [I don't want people to think there's one right way to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/i-don-t-want-people-to-think-there-s-one-right-way-to-eat/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Do not compare yourself to what others seem to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/do-not-compare-yourself-to-what-others-seem-to-be/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Flexibility depends upon your range of motion and will enable you to do more day-to-day tasks with comfort and ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/flexibility-depends-upon-your-range-of-motion-and-will-enable-you-to/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [I don't do long juice cleanses because, for me, it messes up my metabolism, and I actually gain weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/i-don-t-do-long-juice-cleanses-because-for-me-it-messes-up-my/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Yoga will uplift you if you are feeling sluggish or down, relax you if you feel high-strung, and soften your edges if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/yoga-will-uplift-you-if-you-are-feeling-sluggish-or-down-relax-you-if/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) [Explore all 94 Mandy Ingber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) ## More Deep breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take a deep breath. Now, let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi/take-a-deep-breath-now-let-go/) [Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi/) > [Okay, so, flying,” I started, taking a deep breath and focusing on the thing I loved most in the world. “Flying is … great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/okay-so-flying-i-started-taking-a-deep-breath-and-focusing-on-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/go-for-broke-always-try-and-do-too-much-dispense-with-safety-nets/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If you take a deep breath and look around, 'Look what's happening to me!' can become 'Look what's happening!' And what's happening? The incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/if-you-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-around-look-what-s-happening-to-me/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [In life you are going to make mistakes, you're going to fall down, but it's the getting up that counts. Just like in baseball:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/in-life-you-are-going-to-make-mistakes-you-re-going-to-fall-down-but/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [I find that deep breathing and meditation help me handle practically any situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-east/i-find-that-deep-breathing-and-meditation-help-me-handle-practically/) [Nathan East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-east/) > [During a panic attack, I remember that today is just today and that is all that it is. I take a deep breath in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-greenfield/during-a-panic-attack-i-remember-that-today-is-just-today-and-that-is/) [Max Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-greenfield/) > [“Lianna took a deep breath and willed the water to come forth. A warm glow washed over her body, increasing in heat with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroen-steenbeeke/lianna-took-a-deep-breath-and-willed-the-water-to-come-forth-a-warm/) Jeroen Steenbeeke > [I take a deep breath. I'm not sure where that swell of desperation came from, but know that I've acknowledge it, it's impossible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-take-a-deep-breath-i-m-not-sure-where-that-swell-of-desperation/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-drew-a-deep-breath-well-i-m-back-he-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I took a deep breath, held that scent in my lungs for long seconds as I tried to inhale the normalcy that made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-deebs/i-took-a-deep-breath-held-that-scent-in-my-lungs-for-long-seconds-as/) [Tracy Deebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-deebs/) > [Today I close the door to the past , open the door to the future, take a deep breath, step on through and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/today-i-close-the-door-to-the-past-open-the-door-to-the-future-take-a/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“giving an explanation of why I cut was tough. I didn't even really understand why I did it. I took a deep breath. "Well...when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/giving-an-explanation-of-why-i-cut-was-tough-i-didn-t-even-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 358 Deep breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and looked at myself for the first time in a long time. Only, I did not cast a judgmental glare upon myself. 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