--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what…" description: "\"Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of doing, and what you really care about. Then take the initiative - don't wait for someone else..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/sylvia-earle-1756_about_hold-up-a-mirror-and-ask-yourself-what-y_645283.jpg" --- # Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of… ![“Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of doing, and what you really care about. Then take the initiative - don't wait for someone else to ask you to act.” quote by Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/sylvia-earle-1756_about_hold-up-a-mirror-and-ask-yourself-what-y_645283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/sylvia-earle-1756_about_hold-up-a-mirror-and-ask-yourself-what-y_645283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/sylvia-earle-1756_about_hold-up-a-mirror-and-ask-yourself-what-y_645283.jpg) > “Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of doing, and what you really care about. Then take the initiative - don't wait for someone else to ask you to act.” [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑assessment and proactive action are essential for realizing personal potential and purpose. **In simple terms:** Know yourself and act without waiting. Key Takeaway Act on your strengths and values now. Themes self‑growth initiative purpose Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career planning - volunteering - creative projects - health goals Key Concepts personal development self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What strengths are you overlooking? - How can you align actions with values? A Different Perspective May lead to burnout if not balanced with rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) ## Related quotes > [I suggest to everyone: Look in the mirror. Ask yourself: Who are you? What are your talents? Use them, and do what you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-suggest-to-everyone-look-in-the-mirror-ask-yourself-who-are-you/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [“I would not ask from you, Anything that you were not capable of giving, I would not ask from you, Anythng but that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javan/i-would-not-ask-from-you-anything-that-you-were-not-capable-of-giving/) [Javan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javan/) > [First of all, you make ensure, what you want to do! Then ask yourself, what you are capable of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/first-of-all-you-make-ensure-what-you-want-to-do-then-ask-yourself/) Mak\_786 > [For me, after every game you look yourself in the mirror and ask 'what can i do better, what can i do to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/for-me-after-every-game-you-look-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-ask-what/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) > [Look in the mirror and ask yourself, how will you become greater? Walk out that door with an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rexon-wilson/look-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-how-will-you-become-greater-walk/) [Rexon Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rexon-wilson/) > [“As a leader you should look in the mirror and ask yourself would I follow you ensured of a victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler/as-a-leader-you-should-look-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-would-i/) [Donavan Nelson Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler/) > [When you look in the mirror and ask yourself. Why do you actually love me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-look-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-why-do-you-actually-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At the end of every season I look in the mirror and ask myself what can I do better? Where did I screw up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-redick/at-the-end-of-every-season-i-look-in-the-mirror-and-ask-myself-what/) [J. J. Redick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-redick/) > [You sort of look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if want to do things if you want to do some cool things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/you-sort-of-look-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-if-want-to/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [It's going to take each of us coming together to muster the strength to look in the mirror and ask, 'How can I help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-heineman/it-s-going-to-take-each-of-us-coming-together-to-muster-the-strength/) [Matthew Heineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-heineman/) > [Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, what do I want to do everyday for the rest of my life...do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/look-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-what-do-i-want-to-do/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“Who's got a mirror?” I ask. Spider shrugs at me. “We're all fellas. Why would any of us have mirrors?” “I've got a mirror!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-tushmore/who-s-got-a-mirror-i-ask-spider-shrugs-at-me-we-re-all-fellas-why/) Melanie Tushmore > [You need to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you're truly happy. If you can't say yes right away, then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-look-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-if-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grew up a poor kid to a single mom, so as an African-American actor I have a responsibility to hold the mirror up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-todd/i-grew-up-a-poor-kid-to-a-single-mom-so-as-an-african-american-actor/) [Tony Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-todd/) > [Artists hold out the mirror to the bruises on the face of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-skvorecky/artists-hold-out-the-mirror-to-the-bruises-on-the-face-of-the-world/) [Josef Skvorecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-skvorecky/) ## More by Sylvia Earle > [We still have 10 percent of the sharks. We still have half of the coral reefs. However, if we wait another 50 years, opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-still-have-10-percent-of-the-sharks-we-still-have-half-of-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Health to the ocean means health for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/health-to-the-ocean-means-health-for-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Evolution is not something to be feared. It's to be celebrated, embraced, and understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/evolution-is-not-something-to-be-feared-it-s-to-be-celebrated/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [We are depleting this immense diversity and abundance of life, and it matters tremendously for the future of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-are-depleting-this-immense-diversity-and-abundance-of-life-and-it/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [My mother was known as the 'bird lady' of the neighborhood. Anything injured, or any unusual creature somebody found, they would always come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/my-mother-was-known-as-the-bird-lady-of-the-neighborhood-anything/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [There is this sweet spot in time when we have an opportunity to stop killing sharks and tunas and swordfish and other wildlife in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/there-is-this-sweet-spot-in-time-when-we-have-an-opportunity-to-stop/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've always said, 'Underwater or on top, men and women are compatible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-always-said-underwater-or-on-top-men-and-women-are-compatible/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [With respect to the ocean being the heart of our blue planet: We are often asked, 'How much protection is enough?' We can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/with-respect-to-the-ocean-being-the-heart-of-our-blue-planet-we-are/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [If the sea is sick, we'll feel it. If it dies, we die. Our future and the state of the oceans are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/if-the-sea-is-sick-we-ll-feel-it-if-it-dies-we-die-our-future-and-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The ocean seemed like a sea of Eden. But now we are facing paradise lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-ocean-seemed-like-a-sea-of-eden-but-now-we-are-facing-paradise/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When you think about the real cost of so-called cheap energy that has driven our prosperity to unprecedented levels, for some of us, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-you-think-about-the-real-cost-of-so-called-cheap-energy-that-has/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When I arrived on the planet, there were only two billion. Wildlife was more abundant, we were less so; now the situation is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-i-arrived-on-the-planet-there-were-only-two-billion-wildlife-was/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've had the joy of spending thousands of hours under the sea. I wish I could take people along to see what I see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-had-the-joy-of-spending-thousands-of-hours-under-the-sea-i-wish/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The observations that have developed over the years have given us perspective about where we fit in. We are newcomers, really recent arrivals on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-observations-that-have-developed-over-the-years-have-given-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) [Explore all 211 Sylvia Earle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of doing, and what you really care about. 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