---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes an honest look to observe our…"
description: "\"It takes an honest look to observe our selves without judgment, and then to do something about it. Observing without judgment is the practice of yoga. ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png"
---

#  It takes an honest look to observe our selves without…

![“It takes an honest look to observe our selves without judgment, and then to do something about it. Observing without judgment is the practice of yoga. Doing something about it is the stuff that makes up your life.” quote by Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png)

> “It takes an honest look to observe our selves without judgment, and then to do something about it. Observing without judgment is the practice of yoga. Doing something about it is the stuff that makes up your life.”

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Honest self‑observation without judgment followed by purposeful action creates a meaningful life.

**In simple terms:** Watch yourself without judging, then act.

Key Takeaway

Observe, then act.

Themes

self‑awareness action personal growth

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily reflection
- goal setting
- habit formation
- stress management

Key Concepts

mindfulness behavior change

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you separate observation from criticism?
- What small action follows your insight?

A Different Perspective

Judgment often sneaks in unnoticed, limiting clarity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/)

## Related quotes

> [Your tree pose is going crazy and you're falling; and your leg is burning; and it feels impossible to maintain any sort of stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/your-tree-pose-is-going-crazy-and-you-re-falling-and-your-leg-is/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Any of the yoga poses could be substituted in this analogy. How you practice is much more meaningful than what yoga moves you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/any-of-the-yoga-poses-could-be-substituted-in-this-analogy-how-you/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Learning to savor the moment keeps us from living in constant worry and fear and tension over things that haven't happened yet and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/learning-to-savor-the-moment-keeps-us-from-living-in-constant-worry/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [I started practicing yoga when I was a teenager, studying classical dance. My body and mind were very open but not very strong. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/i-started-practicing-yoga-when-i-was-a-teenager-studying-classical/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [I spent my entire childhood observing people. I still do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/i-spent-my-entire-childhood-observing-people-i-still-do/)

[Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/)

> [If you're just letting the time pass at your job, it's just dead time and you'll never get it back. If at that job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/if-you-re-just-letting-the-time-pass-at-your-job-it-s-just-dead-time/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No one familiar with the common law of England can read the Constitution of the United States without observing the great desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/no-one-familiar-with-the-common-law-of-england-can-read-the/)

[Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/)

> [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/)

[Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/)

> [Some theists, observing that all 'effects' need a cause, assert that God is a cause but not an effect. But no one has ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/some-theists-observing-that-all-effects-need-a-cause-assert-that-god/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [If you live with a single parent, you don't see compromise. You witness a grown person living in a world where they do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/if-you-live-with-a-single-parent-you-don-t-see-compromise-you-witness/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [I pretend no originality in observing that mass education was motivated in part by the perceived need to "educate them to keep them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-pretend-no-originality-in-observing-that-mass-education-was/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [I love reading people. I really enjoy watching, observing, and being able to figure out a person, the reason they wore that dress, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/i-love-reading-people-i-really-enjoy-watching-observing-and-being/)

[Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/)

> [I think that, in the end, the military behavior and intelligence services are not very different from each other. It's an attitude of hunters;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-ramirez/i-think-that-in-the-end-the-military-behavior-and-intelligence/)

[Edgar Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-ramirez/)

> [“Observing is not just seeing. It is watching with attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/observing-is-not-just-seeing-it-is-watching-with-attention/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

## More by Tara Stiles

> [I started practicing yoga when I was a teenager, studying classical dance. My body and mind were very open but not very strong. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/i-started-practicing-yoga-when-i-was-a-teenager-studying-classical/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Each full, deep inhale creates more space in your body and mind. Each long, exhale moves you directly into that space. The deeper you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/each-full-deep-inhale-creates-more-space-in-your-body-and-mind-each/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [There is a big lesson in experiencing uncertainty and calamity with a sober focus - the most chaotic moments are the ones from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/there-is-a-big-lesson-in-experiencing-uncertainty-and-calamity-with-a/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Believing in yourself is essential to creating lasting change and a happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/believing-in-yourself-is-essential-to-creating-lasting-change-and-a/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [We get so caught up in doing everything for ourselves, including inspiring ourselves, that it's exhausting and not at all useful. Take a look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/we-get-so-caught-up-in-doing-everything-for-ourselves-including/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Learning to savor the moment keeps us from living in constant worry and fear and tension over things that haven't happened yet and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/learning-to-savor-the-moment-keeps-us-from-living-in-constant-worry/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Your tree pose is going crazy and you're falling; and your leg is burning; and it feels impossible to maintain any sort of stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/your-tree-pose-is-going-crazy-and-you-re-falling-and-your-leg-is/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Any of the yoga poses could be substituted in this analogy. How you practice is much more meaningful than what yoga moves you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/any-of-the-yoga-poses-could-be-substituted-in-this-analogy-how-you/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [It's no secret the benefits of yoga include but are not limited to a healthy body, calm mind, reduced stress, feeling of connectivity with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/it-s-no-secret-the-benefits-of-yoga-include-but-are-not-limited-to-a/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [Balance takes work. Lots of it. There is no endpoint in balance, no goal, no finalization. Balance requires practice, patience, and - most importantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/balance-takes-work-lots-of-it-there-is-no-endpoint-in-balance-no-goal/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [My parents were/are straight-edge hippies. Mom roamed around gardening so we would have fresh food, and Dad was on wood-chopping duty to heat our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/my-parents-were-are-straight-edge-hippies-mom-roamed-around-gardening/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [There are no rules in life. It’s a mind-set that limits people dramatically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/there-are-no-rules-in-life-it-s-a-mind-set-that-limits-people/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [When your breathing is easy and deep, your body works efficiently, and your mind settles. That doesn't mean that your balance (in tree pose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/when-your-breathing-is-easy-and-deep-your-body-works-efficiently-and/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [We are here on this planet to add to the happiness of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/we-are-here-on-this-planet-to-add-to-the-happiness-of-the-world/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

> [When we feel like we discover something, we are usually uncovering or realizing what has always been there. The laws of nature are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/when-we-feel-like-we-discover-something-we-are-usually-uncovering-or/)

[Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

[Explore all 135 Tara Stiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/)

## More Honest quotes

> [How strong is a faith that can't stand up to a few honest questions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-c-davis/how-strong-is-a-faith-that-can-t-stand-up-to-a-few-honest-questions/)

[Kenneth C. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-c-davis/)

> [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [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/)

> [Tobacco is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/tobacco-is-the-passion-of-honest-men-and-he-who-lives-without-tobacco/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“RIGHT Do you do what feels right or what is seen right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/right-do-you-do-what-feels-right-or-what-is-seen-right/)

[Kitty Downer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-downer/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [I don't know - to be honest, I don't really model myself after anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-don-t-know-to-be-honest-i-don-t-really-model-myself-after-anybody/)

[Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/)

> [There's a certain edge about cruelty. If you're honest about it, most people wince, but say it had to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-waterman/there-s-a-certain-edge-about-cruelty-if-you-re-honest-about-it-most/)

[Pete Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-waterman/)

> [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/)

[Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/)

> [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/)

[Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/)

> [I used to not be really honest with girls and then I dropped a song called Starry Room and then I started turning over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-smith/i-used-to-not-be-really-honest-with-girls-and-then-i-dropped-a-song/)

[Jaden Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-smith/)

> [Fuck perfect, I want honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djsovviet/fuck-perfect-i-want-honest/)

Djsovviet

> [If I'm honest, I think everything is funny. You've just got to find the right way in. When I'm at my happiest and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/if-i-m-honest-i-think-everything-is-funny-you-ve-just-got-to-find-the/)

[Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/)

> [I think managers see that I am honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lallana/i-think-managers-see-that-i-am-honest/)

[Adam Lallana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lallana/)

[Browse all 7,016 Honest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It takes an honest look to observe our selves without judgment, and then to do something about it. Observing without judgment is the practice of yoga. Doing something about it is the stuff that makes up your life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tara Stiles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-selves-without-judgment-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Honest"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-selves-without-judgment-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tara-stiles-3249_honest_it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-s_253087.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It takes an honest look to observe our selves without judgment, and then to do something about it. Observing…” — Tara Stiles",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tara Stiles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It takes an honest look to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-selves-without-judgment-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/it-takes-an-honest-look-to-observe-our-selves-without-judgment-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
