--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The practice of self-observation mirrors…" description: "\"“The practice of self-observation mirrors the way in which a mother observes and attunes to her baby. Self-observation is a method of re-parenting ours..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/philippa-perry-17021_identity_the-practice-of-self-observation-mirrors_2786381.png" --- # The practice of self-observation mirrors the way in which… ![“The practice of self-observation mirrors the way in which a mother observes and attunes to her baby. Self-observation is a method of re-parenting ourselves. ... What am I feeling now? What am I thinking now? What am I doing at this moment? How am I breathing? What do I want for myself in this new…” quote by Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/philippa-perry-17021_identity_the-practice-of-self-observation-mirrors_2786381.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/philippa-perry-17021_identity_the-practice-of-self-observation-mirrors_2786381.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/philippa-perry-17021_identity_the-practice-of-self-observation-mirrors_2786381.png) > ““The practice of self-observation mirrors the way in which a mother observes and attunes to her baby. Self-observation is a method of re-parenting ourselves. ... What am I feeling now? What am I thinking now? What am I doing at this moment? How am I breathing? What do I want for myself in this new moment?”” [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes self‑observation as a nurturing practice akin to a mother caring for her child, encouraging mindful awareness of feelings, thoughts, and actions. **In simple terms:** Observe yourself like a caring parent. Key Takeaway Practice mindful self‑care daily. Themes psychology self‑growth mindfulness Mood calm introspective Type therapeutic educational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - stress management Key Concepts self‑compassion metacognition Questions to Reflect On - What does self‑observation reveal about you? - How can you turn observations into positive change? A Different Perspective Self‑observation can become self‑criticism if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby-self-3346517/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Observation Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation-method-3346518/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-observation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The physicist, in his study of natural phenomena, has two methods of making progress: (1) the method of experiment and observation, and (2) the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dirac/the-physicist-in-his-study-of-natural-phenomena-has-two-methods-of/) [Paul Dirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dirac/) > [Association with human beings lures one into self-observation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/association-with-human-beings-lures-one-into-self-observation/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice. 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And in observing himself a man notices that self-observation itself brings about certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/self-observation-brings-man-to-the-realization-of-the-necessity-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This is what is meant by the phenomenology of the science-making process: Self-observation always leads us to an existential point about the metaphysics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-taylor/this-is-what-is-meant-by-the-phenomenology-of-the-science-making/) [Eugene Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-taylor/) > [“Whoever we are, we find ourselves, through self-observation, possessed of a certain small number of typical ways of reacting to the manifold impressions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/whoever-we-are-we-find-ourselves-through-self-observation-possessed/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“The most fundamental exercise is self-observation, which is the catalyst for inner change, it will give self-knowledge and a clear mind and perception. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belsebuub/the-most-fundamental-exercise-is-self-observation-which-is-the/) [Belsebuub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belsebuub/) > [“Without thorough training in the sense of self-observation, the days usually go by in a state of fascination with the events of daily life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belzebuub/without-thorough-training-in-the-sense-of-self-observation-the-days/) [Belzebuub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belzebuub/) > [How then can we change being? By applying the knowledge of the Work through self-observation to ourselves. And remember that you do not change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/how-then-can-we-change-being-by-applying-the-knowledge-of-the-work/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [Self-observation is the first step of inner unfolding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/self-observation-is-the-first-step-of-inner-unfolding/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“Dialogue is about creating awareness through self-observation; it starts from the inside out, not the outside in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/dialogue-is-about-creating-awareness-through-self-observation-it/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [“Self-observation helps us to refocus within, to balance ourselves and to be in the present moment…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-ripstein/self-observation-helps-us-to-refocus-within-to-balance-ourselves-and/) [Jacqueline Ripstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-ripstein/) > [“Often those that criticise others reveal what he himself lacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/often-those-that-criticise-others-reveal-what-he-himself-lacks/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Philippa Perry > [In order to stretch ourselves we do need to experience the vulnerability of not knowing the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/in-order-to-stretch-ourselves-we-do-need-to-experience-the/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [When we had to survive on our wits, gather and kill our food from scratch and be more at the mercy of our environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/when-we-had-to-survive-on-our-wits-gather-and-kill-our-food-from/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [“You may find that you have been telling yourself that practicing optimism is a risk, as though, somehow, a positive attitude will invite disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/you-may-find-that-you-have-been-telling-yourself-that-practicing/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [It used to be thought that you stopped making new neural connections in your youth and from then on your brain was fixed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/it-used-to-be-thought-that-you-stopped-making-new-neural-connections/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [It seems whether we have a tendency towards being flexible or structured affects how we create, how we parent, how we work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/it-seems-whether-we-have-a-tendency-towards-being-flexible-or/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [Meditators are shown to have thickening in parts of the brain structure that deal with attention, memory and sensory functions. This was found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/meditators-are-shown-to-have-thickening-in-parts-of-the-brain/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [Whether you plan or whether you flow in order to be creative probably isn't the point. The point is to keep practicing to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/whether-you-plan-or-whether-you-flow-in-order-to-be-creative-probably/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [As we get older it is our short term memory that fades rather than our long term memory. Perhaps we have evolved like this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/as-we-get-older-it-is-our-short-term-memory-that-fades-rather-than/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [The extreme of flexibility is chaos and the extreme of being structured is rigid and staying sane, or indeed using your creativity, is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/the-extreme-of-flexibility-is-chaos-and-the-extreme-of-being/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [Our emotional map is laid down mainly in relationship with our earliest caregiver in the first couple of years of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/our-emotional-map-is-laid-down-mainly-in-relationship-with-our/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [Beginning a new habit, or ending an old one can feel like letting go of a rope that swings a mile above the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/beginning-a-new-habit-or-ending-an-old-one-can-feel-like-letting-go/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [If we keep practicing mental skills it is likely we can strengthen neural connections and make new connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/if-we-keep-practicing-mental-skills-it-is-likely-we-can-strengthen/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [The trouble is if we take no new steps to try a new challenge, our comfort zone doesn't seem just to stay still, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/the-trouble-is-if-we-take-no-new-steps-to-try-a-new-challenge-our/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [“Examining our assumptions and checking them out with our partner ensures that we have a relationship with the person instead of a fantasy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/examining-our-assumptions-and-checking-them-out-with-our-partner/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [I am talking about being optimistic enough to sow some seeds in the hope that some of them will germinate and grow into flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/i-am-talking-about-being-optimistic-enough-to-sow-some-seeds-in-the/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) [Explore all 38 Philippa Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) ## 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. 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