--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Awareness is the key. Do we see the…" description: "\"Awareness is the key. Do we see the stories that we're telling ourselves and question their validity?\" — Pema Chodron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/pema-ch-dr-n-327_awareness_awareness-is-the-key-do-we-see-the-stori_1569063.png" --- # Awareness is the key. Do we see the stories that we're… ![“Awareness is the key. Do we see the stories that we're telling ourselves and question their validity?” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/pema-ch-dr-n-327_awareness_awareness-is-the-key-do-we-see-the-stori_1569063.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/pema-ch-dr-n-327_awareness_awareness-is-the-key-do-we-see-the-stori_1569063.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/pema-ch-dr-n-327_awareness_awareness-is-the-key-do-we-see-the-stori_1569063.png) > “Awareness is the key. Do we see the stories that we're telling ourselves and question their validity?” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑awareness involves questioning the narratives we tell ourselves and testing their truth. **In simple terms:** Examine your inner stories. Key Takeaway Scrutinize and validate your thoughts. Themes mindfulness self‑inquiry truth mental habits growth Mood calm inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - journaling - coaching - daily reflection Key Concepts cognitive restructuring psychology spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What stories do you repeat? - How can you test their accuracy? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated stories can be emotionally challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [You have to be respectful of the stories you're telling. You can never use the real-world trauma as a sort of crass entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-dacosta/you-have-to-be-respectful-of-the-stories-you-re-telling-you-can-never/) [Nia DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-dacosta/) > [Memory is the way we keep telling ourselves our stories - and telling other people a somewhat different version of our stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/memory-is-the-way-we-keep-telling-ourselves-our-stories-and-telling/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [Film is all about telling stories, and telling stories is the thing that has pushed forward humanity from the beginning of storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-dacosta/film-is-all-about-telling-stories-and-telling-stories-is-the-thing/) [Nia DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-dacosta/) > [Awareness is key. In the absence of information, none of us know what is happening and what could be jeopardizing our health, our water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/awareness-is-key-in-the-absence-of-information-none-of-us-know-what/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [Awareness is the first key step in breaking the spell of your not-so-awesome financial 'reality.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/awareness-is-the-first-key-step-in-breaking-the-spell-of-your-not-so/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [Awareness is a key ingredient in success. If you have it, teach it, if you lack it, seek it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kitson/awareness-is-a-key-ingredient-in-success-if-you-have-it-teach-it-if/) Michael Kitson > [Our awareness is the key. It is our awareness more than our work effort that gets the right result right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/our-awareness-is-the-key-it-is-our-awareness-more-than-our-work/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [“Trapped in a continuum of your own making. Awareness is the key that unlocks your opportunity for change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/trapped-in-a-continuum-of-your-own-making-awareness-is-the-key-that/) Truth Devour > [“Awareness is the key to surviving on a motorcycle. Always be aware of your surroundings, and actively scan your surroundings at all times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stein/awareness-is-the-key-to-surviving-on-a-motorcycle-always-be-aware-of/) [John Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stein/) > [Self-awareness is a key to self-mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/self-awareness-is-a-key-to-self-mastery/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Awareness is the key. Do we see the stories that we're telling ourselves and question their validity? When we are distracted by strong emotion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/awareness-is-the-key-do-we-see-the-stories-that-we-re-telling-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I love hearing stories, telling stories, sharing stories. I've shared 37,000 on the Oprah show! Every day I was like the town crier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-love-hearing-stories-telling-stories-sharing-stories-i-ve-shared-37/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I've always been drawn to stories and telling them; whether it was through being a part of theater when I was a little kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-stories-and-telling-them-whether-it-was/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [What I love about the Bible is that it's a group of stories but it's all telling one main story. It's about Jesus Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-diaz/what-i-love-about-the-bible-is-that-it-s-a-group-of-stories-but-it-s/) [Matt Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-diaz/) > [My favorite thing in the world is telling stories, and most of what I do is telling stories through music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/my-favorite-thing-in-the-world-is-telling-stories-and-most-of-what-i/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Awareness quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“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/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Browse all 4,768 Awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Awareness is the key. 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