--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look back, I was so mean to…" description: "\"When I look back, I was so mean to myself, and I was so uncomfortable in my own skin. I still feel that very loudly sometimes, but to try and really nu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/sara-bareilles-2495_feel_when-i-look-back-i-was-so-mean-to-myself_2202128.png" --- # When I look back, I was so mean to myself, and I was so… ![“When I look back, I was so mean to myself, and I was so uncomfortable in my own skin. I still feel that very loudly sometimes, but to try and really nurture that sense that you are your own friend.” quote by Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/sara-bareilles-2495_feel_when-i-look-back-i-was-so-mean-to-myself_2202128.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/sara-bareilles-2495_feel_when-i-look-back-i-was-so-mean-to-myself_2202128.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/sara-bareilles-2495_feel_when-i-look-back-i-was-so-mean-to-myself_2202128.png) > “When I look back, I was so mean to myself, and I was so uncomfortable in my own skin. I still feel that very loudly sometimes, but to try and really nurture that sense that you are your own friend.” [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on past self‑criticism and discomfort, urging self‑compassion and becoming one's own ally. **In simple terms:** Be kinder to yourself and accept yourself. Key Takeaway Treat yourself as a supportive friend. Themes self‑acceptance mental health growth Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - overcoming self‑criticism - building confidence - daily self‑kindness practices Key Concepts self‑compassion inner dialogue personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice self‑friendship daily? - What triggers your inner critic? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can become entrenched, making change hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Loudly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-loudly-4842194/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-uncomfortable-4842193/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Nurture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurture/) [Skin Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-feel-786736/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Uncomfortable Skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable-skin-493383/) ## Related quotes > [If you imagine yourself to be someone who is very uncomfortable in their own skin, then it does funny things to your voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/if-you-imagine-yourself-to-be-someone-who-is-very-uncomfortable-in/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [I'm very uncomfortable in my own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-m-very-uncomfortable-in-my-own-skin/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [When youre uncomfortable in your own skin you tend to dress it in a way that makes it look worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-youre-uncomfortable-in-your-own-skin-you-tend-to-dress-it-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am comfortable in my character's skin. I am uncomfortable being in my own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/i-am-comfortable-in-my-character-s-skin-i-am-uncomfortable-being-in/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [I don’t think that actors are necessarily any more uncomfortable in their skin than anyone else. I suppose I feel more comfortable in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-whishaw/i-don-t-think-that-actors-are-necessarily-any-more-uncomfortable-in/) [Ben Whishaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-whishaw/) > [Sometimes I feel incredibly disconnected, really uncomfortable in my own skin, kind of life I don't fit into this world, like I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-tree-hill/sometimes-i-feel-incredibly-disconnected-really-uncomfortable-in-my/) [One Tree Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-tree-hill/) > [Your clothes are an extra skin, and if you feel good in them, you radiate confidence and then the clothes are just the background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/your-clothes-are-an-extra-skin-and-if-you-feel-good-in-them-you/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [If you're comfortable in your own skin, you will feel beautiful - and look beautiful to others, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-lima/if-you-re-comfortable-in-your-own-skin-you-will-feel-beautiful-and/) [Adriana Lima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-lima/) > [You tell me not to cut my skin, but when I do, I feel relief. you tell me not to end my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassidy-saddoris/you-tell-me-not-to-cut-my-skin-but-when-i-do-i-feel-relief-you-tell/) [Cassidy Saddoris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassidy-saddoris/) > [If you can't feel, why did you kiss me?" Patch traced a finger along my collarbone, then headed south stopping at my heart. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/if-you-can-t-feel-why-did-you-kiss-me-patch-traced-a-finger-along-my/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I'm on many a pill for my skin... I feel like that's cheating but when I turned 18, out of nowhere I got acne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-spielberg/i-m-on-many-a-pill-for-my-skin-i-feel-like-that-s-cheating-but-when-i/) [Sasha Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-spielberg/) > [I love going to the beach in the tropics and doing whatever I do - surfing, swimming or being - and the glow when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-going-to-the-beach-in-the-tropics-and-doing-whatever-i-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Feel the rain on your skin. No one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in. No one else can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/feel-the-rain-on-your-skin-no-one-else-can-feel-it-for-you-only-you/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [I never felt comfortable in my own skin, and I feel like I missed out on a lot of high school experiences because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-never-felt-comfortable-in-my-own-skin-and-i-feel-like-i-missed-out/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“through my lower belly and made my skin feel like it was overheating. I’m not entirely sure what it was, but I do know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-hart/through-my-lower-belly-and-made-my-skin-feel-like-it-was-overheating/) [Lane Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-hart/) ## More by Sara Bareilles > [I'm happy to be working with all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-m-happy-to-be-working-with-all-women/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [“Started as a flicker, meant to be a flame. Skin has gotten thicker, but it burns the same. Still a baby in a cradle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/started-as-a-flicker-meant-to-be-a-flame-skin-has-gotten-thicker-but/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love. Or you can start speaking up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/you-can-be-the-outcast-or-be-the-backlash-of-somebody-s-lack-of-love/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [My hairstylist taught me a trick for my hair. You section off your hair and put them up in these crazy little knots and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/my-hairstylist-taught-me-a-trick-for-my-hair-you-section-off-your/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [To make room for the parts that aren't you it gets harder to bloom in a garden of Love love love love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/to-make-room-for-the-parts-that-aren-t-you-it-gets-harder-to-bloom-in/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [My favourite thing to do in any city is just to get lost and go for long walks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/my-favourite-thing-to-do-in-any-city-is-just-to-get-lost-and-go-for/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [I'm that person who owns all of the seasons on DVDs, including the Lifetime intimate portraits showcasing The Golden Girls. I am a massive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-m-that-person-who-owns-all-of-the-seasons-on-dvds-including-the/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [“Your a lovely creation, I'd like to think that I am too. My friends said I look better with out you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/your-a-lovely-creation-i-d-like-to-think-that-i-am-too-my-friends/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [I have been influenced by many different artists at many different stages of my life. Starting out, it was people like Elton John, Billy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-have-been-influenced-by-many-different-artists-at-many-different/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [Stepping back into theatre, a childhood dream, I always felt like I would be onstage. I hadn't imagined myself in a composer role... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/stepping-back-into-theatre-a-childhood-dream-i-always-felt-like-i/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [“My emotional world imploded, and there is nothing that could have been said or done to make it easier. No one was in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/my-emotional-world-imploded-and-there-is-nothing-that-could-have-been/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [Only thing I ever could need, only one good thing worth trying to be and it's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/only-thing-i-ever-could-need-only-one-good-thing-worth-trying-to-be/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [I can very much relate to waking up inside of your life and saying to yourself, "How did I get here?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-can-very-much-relate-to-waking-up-inside-of-your-life-and-saying-to/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [One of the wonderful ways to celebrate women is to hire women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/one-of-the-wonderful-ways-to-celebrate-women-is-to-hire-women/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [“We can understand the sentiment you're saying to us Oh, But sensible sells so could you kindly shut up And get started At keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/we-can-understand-the-sentiment-you-re-saying-to-us-oh-but-sensible/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) [Explore all 163 Sara Bareilles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I look back, I was so mean to myself, and I was so uncomfortable in my own skin. 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