Good and bad Quote by Mark Ettensohn
““Narcissists have difficulty connecting with their observing self and their self-as-context. They are continually running from “bad” conceptualized selves and continually chasing “good” ones. They try to get rid of the bad ones by projecting them onto others. When you find yourself being pulled in one direction or another, try to remember that you transcend any particular label that your mind might assign. You are not good or bad. You are the place where thoughts like good and bad happen. You are the being that gives meaning to ideas like goodness and badness. You are also the being that watches your experiences. You’ve always been there, since the moment that you were born.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Self-Compassion Practices, 2022
We often identify with labels of good or bad, but our true self is the observing awareness that simply experiences thoughts and feelings without being defined by them.
In simple terms: Your true self is the observer, not the labels.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and rest in your observing awareness.
Themes
self-awareness
mindfulness
identity
psychology
growth
Mood
calm
insightful
Type
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
non-dual awareness
self-context
projection
labeling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you notice when you are projecting onto others?
- What practices help you stay in the observing self?
A Different Perspective
Labels can be useful for navigation but may also limit self-understanding.
![“[...] this observing self often kills and withers anything that is under its scrutiny. The individual has now a persecuting observer in the very core of his being. It may be that the child becomes possessed by the alien and destructive presence of the observer who has turned bad in his absence…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/820/r-d-laing-4-155404_child-psychology_this-observing-self-often-kills-and-with_1378915.jpg)
