--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a lot about Big Mind-Small Mind…" description: "\"I think a lot about Big Mind-Small Mind, expansive, wide-lens consciousness and contracted, introverted consciousness. I have moments-we all do-when ju..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/sylvia-boorstein-7241_alive_i-think-a-lot-about-big-mind-small-mind_2489491.png" --- # I think a lot about Big Mind-Small Mind, expansive… ![“I think a lot about Big Mind-Small Mind, expansive, wide-lens consciousness and contracted, introverted consciousness. I have moments-we all do-when just being alive is a pleasure and a miracle. They feel like moments when the shutters of the mind are open so I can look out. It also feels as if…” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/sylvia-boorstein-7241_alive_i-think-a-lot-about-big-mind-small-mind_2489491.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/sylvia-boorstein-7241_alive_i-think-a-lot-about-big-mind-small-mind_2489491.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/sylvia-boorstein-7241_alive_i-think-a-lot-about-big-mind-small-mind_2489491.png) > “I think a lot about Big Mind-Small Mind, expansive, wide-lens consciousness and contracted, introverted consciousness. I have moments-we all do-when just being alive is a pleasure and a miracle. They feel like moments when the shutters of the mind are open so I can look out. It also feels as if those same shutters have no hooks to fix them in an open position. One small wind and bang-they slam shut.” [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes alternating states of expansive, open consciousness and contracted, focused awareness, noting the fleeting nature of openness. **In simple terms:** Mind can be open or closed, often briefly. Key Takeaway Cultivate moments of open awareness. Themes consciousness mindfulness duality Mood reflective calm Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative work - stressful situations - learning environments Key Concepts expansive mind contracted mind presence Questions to Reflect On - What practices help keep your mind open? - How do you handle the quick closure of openness? A Different Perspective Maintaining openness is challenging under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bangs/) [Big Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mind-943631/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Consciousness Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-moments-949992/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Hook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hook/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Introverted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introverted/) [Introverted Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introverted-consciousness-949994/) [Just being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-being/) [Lenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lenses/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Expansive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-expansive-949993/) [Mind Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-open/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shutters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shutters/) [Slam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slam/) [Small minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-minds/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [Small mind competes, big mind collaborates and great mind encompasses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/small-mind-competes-big-mind-collaborates-and-great-mind-encompasses/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [If your mind is expansive and unfettered, you will find yourself in a more accommodating world, a place that's endlessly interesting and alive. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-your-mind-is-expansive-and-unfettered-you-will-find-yourself-in-a/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“My mind is expansive enough for multiple things to prey on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mind-is-expansive-enough-for-multiple-things-to-prey-on-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The inner aspects of reincarnation have to do with where you put your mind. The more expansive state of mind you enter into, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-inner-aspects-of-reincarnation-have-to-do-with-where-you-put-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Sometimes, some rare times, a secret stays undiscovered because it is something too big for the mind to hold. It is too strange, too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sometimes-some-rare-times-a-secret-stays-undiscovered-because-it-is-2/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I will always be that guy's girl. I've made him so big in my mind that I can't even move around in there. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brown/i-will-always-be-that-guy-s-girl-i-ve-made-him-so-big-in-my-mind-that/) [Tara Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brown/) > [Majestic and stately as Conrad Richter''s Awakening Land Trilogy, Evangeline is a big book from a big mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-weber/majestic-and-stately-as-conrad-richter-s-awakening-land-trilogy/) [Katharine Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-weber/) > [Big mind is something to express, not something to figure out. Big mind is something you have, not something to seek for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/big-mind-is-something-to-express-not-something-to-figure-out-big-mind/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Great minds talk about ideas; small minds talk about people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/great-minds-talk-about-ideas-small-minds-talk-about-people/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“Racism is a big problem Created by small minds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gonzales/racism-is-a-big-problem-created-by-small-minds/) [Gil Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gonzales/) > [Small minds just like light winds can never create giant waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/small-minds-just-like-light-winds-can-never-create-giant-waves/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Small minds blame others for their misery. Maturity comes when we take ownership of our own destiny and take responsibility for our own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/small-minds-blame-others-for-their-misery-maturity-comes-when-we-take/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [Dont let small minds persuade you that your dreams are too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-let-small-minds-persuade-you-that-your-dreams-are-too-big/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't let small minded people dictate how you should look and be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-molko/don-t-let-small-minded-people-dictate-how-you-should-look-and-be-free/) [Brian Molko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-molko/) > [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## More by Sylvia Boorstein > [“... every single act we do has the potential of causing pain, and every single thing we do has consequences that echo way beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/every-single-act-we-do-has-the-potential-of-causing-pain-and-every/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“... although I knew what issues had been most difficult for me in my life, I may not have known the depth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/although-i-knew-what-issues-had-been-most-difficult-for-me-in-my-life/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“I would not ask you to do this practice, to undertake this path of liberation from the habits of suffering mind, unless it were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/i-would-not-ask-you-to-do-this-practice-to-undertake-this-path-of/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Mindfulness meditation doesn't change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart's capacity to accept life as it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/mindfulness-meditation-doesn-t-change-life-life-remains-as-fragile/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [If you take a deep breath and look around, 'Look what's happening to me!' can become 'Look what's happening!' And what's happening? The incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/if-you-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-around-look-what-s-happening-to-me/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“... freedom of choice is possible. Life is going to unfold however it does: pleasant or unpleasant, disappointing or thrilling, expected or unexpected, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/freedom-of-choice-is-possible-life-is-going-to-unfold-however-it-does/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [The mind is like tofu. It tastes like whatever you marinate it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-mind-is-like-tofu-it-tastes-like-whatever-you-marinate-it-in/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [The Buddha taught that suffering is the extra pain in the mind that happens when we feel an anguished imperative to have things be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-taught-that-suffering-is-the-extra-pain-in-the-mind-that/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“I love the phrase 'I am not afraid!' Maybe it's the best phrase we can say, other than 'I have everything I need.' Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/i-love-the-phrase-i-am-not-afraid-maybe-it-s-the-best-phrase-we-can/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [My father . . . used to say, 'I need my anger. It obliges me to take action.' I think my father was partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/my-father-used-to-say-i-need-my-anger-it-obliges-me-to-take-action-i/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [ “... life is difficult and painful, just by its very nature, not because we're doing it wrong \[pp. 17-18\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/life-is-difficult-and-painful-just-by-its-very-nature-not-because-we/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Some of my most precious moments of insight have been those in which I have seen clearly that gratitude is the only possible response."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/some-of-my-most-precious-moments-of-insight-have-been-those-in-which/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [The Buddha taught complete honesty, with the extra instruction that everything a person says should be truthful and helpful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-taught-complete-honesty-with-the-extra-instruction-that/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [Dedication to goodness-dedication in response to an inner moral mandate rather than external restraint-was both the antidote to the pain and the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/dedication-to-goodness-dedication-in-response-to-an-inner-moral/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Anger is often a big problem for people who grew up in families where the overt expression of anger was an everyday occurrence. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/anger-is-often-a-big-problem-for-people-who-grew-up-in-families-where/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) [Explore all 93 Sylvia Boorstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [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 don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. 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It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. 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