---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different…"
description: "\"Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ball..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png"
---

#  Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people…

![“Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ballerina. But maybe I'm not seeing what other people are seeing.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png)

> “Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ballerina. But maybe I'm not seeing what other people are seeing.”

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

## About This Quote

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

Self-perception can differ from how others see us, especially in performance arts, leading to potential misalignment.

**In simple terms:** How see yourself may not match how others see you.

Key Takeaway

Seek feedback to align self‑image with external perception.

Themes

self‑awareness performance identity

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- audition preparation
- team rehearsals
- public speaking
- personal branding

Key Concepts

cognitive bias social perception self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your self‑image affect your performance?
- What steps can you take to reconcile differing perceptions?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on internal view can hinder growth if external feedback is ignored.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Ballerina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballerina/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [ Some people even think that I'm still just not right for it \[ballet\]. And I think it's shocking because they hear those words from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/some-people-even-think-that-i-m-still-just-not-right-for-it-ballet/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [The 'feminine' woman is forever static and childlike. She is like the ballerina in an old-fashioned music box, her unchanging features tiny and girlish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/the-feminine-woman-is-forever-static-and-childlike-she-is-like-the/)

[Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/)

> [“Stepping lightly, just like a ballerina.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/stepping-lightly-just-like-a-ballerina/)

[Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/)

> [Lynn Swann - I loved the way he was like a ballerina playing in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/lynn-swann-i-loved-the-way-he-was-like-a-ballerina-playing-in-the-nfl/)

[Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/)

> [“She walks like a ballerina in dance slippers, her feet as articulate as hands, a little vessel of grace moving out into the fog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/she-walks-like-a-ballerina-in-dance-slippers-her-feet-as-articulate/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“It seemed as if the whole of the world was slowly being stripped of innocence. Or maybe I was seeing a little too clearly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/it-seemed-as-if-the-whole-of-the-world-was-slowly-being-stripped-of/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [I thought maybe he was seeing another tree. - Juniper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-thought-maybe-he-was-seeing-another-tree-juniper/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Alright. Look. I didnt want to have to say this, but I think maybe were not seeing heaven because one of us doesnt believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cartman/alright-look-i-didnt-want-to-have-to-say-this-but-i-think-maybe-were/)

[Eric Cartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cartman/)

> [Cartman: You know, maybe we're not seeing heaven because one of us is a J-O-O.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/south-park/cartman-you-know-maybe-we-re-not-seeing-heaven-because-one-of-us-is-a/)

[South Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/south-park/)

> [Maybe it won't work out. But maybe seeing if it does will be the best adventure ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-it-won-t-work-out-but-maybe-seeing-if-it-does-will-be-the-best/)

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

> [I always dreamt of being a girl. One of my earliest memories is spinning around in my mom's skirt trying to look like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreja-pejic/i-always-dreamt-of-being-a-girl-one-of-my-earliest-memories-is/)

[Andreja Pejic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreja-pejic/)

> [¦.watch me rise like smoke from fire. Watch me fly above your hate. Watch me dance upon your meanness like a ballerina with posture;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-j-ginger-2/watch-me-rise-like-smoke-from-fire-watch-me-fly-above-your-hate-watch/)

[Coco J Ginger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-j-ginger-2/)

> [A lot of people think, "Oh I'm going to eat whatever I want and then go to the gym." And I've definitely been one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/a-lot-of-people-think-oh-i-m-going-to-eat-whatever-i-want-and-then-go/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

## More by Misty Copeland

> [I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-traced-the-marley-floor-with-my-pointe-shoes-and-imagine-myself-on/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-be-empathetic-to-everyone-around-you-i-think-is-such-a-powerful/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-first-ballet-class-was-on-a-basketball-court-i-m-in-my-gym-clothes/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [There are muscles that we have in our feet that most human beings don't even know that we have. The strength that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/there-are-muscles-that-we-have-in-our-feet-that-most-human-beings-don/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/be-strong-be-fearless-be-beautiful-and-believe-that-anything-is/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-woman-represents-ballet-she-is-most-important-powerful-and-vital/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [If I'm put in a situation where I am not really sure what's going to happen, it can be overwhelming. I get a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/if-i-m-put-in-a-situation-where-i-am-not-really-sure-what-s-going-to/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-experienced-getting-nervous-on-stage-i-think-i-was-most/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-word-prodigy-was-thrown-around-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-understand-what/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/once-you-become-a-professional-to-get-through-a-ballet-like-swan-lake/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [I was 17 when I moved to NYC . I'm now 32. But I do know I can't see myself living anywhere else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-17-when-i-moved-to-nyc-i-m-now-32-but-i-do-know-i-can-t-see/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

> [I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-grew-up-poor-in-san-pedro-california-sleeping-on-the-floor-of-shady/)

[Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

[Explore all 191 Misty Copeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/)

## More Audience quotes

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/)

[Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/)

> [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/)

[Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/)

> [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/)

[An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/)

> [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/)

[Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/)

> [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/)

[Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/)

[Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/)

> [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/)

[Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/)

> [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/)

[Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/)

> [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

[Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I look like a ballerina and I feel like a ballerina. But maybe I'm not seeing what other people are seeing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Misty Copeland"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-way-than-the-people-in-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Audience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-way-than-the-people-in-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/misty-copeland-2012_audience_maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-w_2698477.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Maybe I'm seeing myself in a different way than the people in the audience see me, 'cause to me, I think I…” — Misty Copeland",
                "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": "Misty Copeland",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Maybe I'm seeing myself in a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-way-than-the-people-in-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/maybe-i-m-seeing-myself-in-a-different-way-than-the-people-in-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
