---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When there was pain or hurt, or bad…"
description: "\"“When there was pain or hurt, or bad memories crowded in, work could be a literal lifeline, taking your mind away from what you couldn't deal with and ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png"
---

#  When there was pain or hurt, or bad memories crowded in…

![“When there was pain or hurt, or bad memories crowded in, work could be a literal lifeline, taking your mind away from what you couldn't deal with and channeling it into something good, something tangible.” quote by Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png)

> ““When there was pain or hurt, or bad memories crowded in, work could be a literal lifeline, taking your mind away from what you couldn't deal with and channeling it into something good, something tangible.””

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

## About This Quote

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

Work can serve as a coping mechanism, redirecting pain into productive creation

**In simple terms:** Work can help you escape and heal from hurt

Key Takeaway

Use work as a therapeutic outlet

Themes

coping creativity mental health

Mood

hopeful thoughtful

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- grief processing
- stress relief
- career development
- artistic projects

Key Concepts

Flow state mindfulness purpose

Questions to Reflect On

- How does work help you process pain?
- When does work become a distraction?

A Different Perspective

Work may become avoidance if not balanced

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bad memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-memories/) [Hurt Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-bad/) [Literal Lifeline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-lifeline-1317204/) [Mind Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-away-291603/) [Pain Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-hurt/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Literal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-literal-1317203/)

## Related quotes

> [Took my mind away from money, I ain't interested in fame, and I pray that never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/took-my-mind-away-from-money-i-ain-t-interested-in-fame-and-i-pray/)

[Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/)

> [I didn't lose my mind, it was mine to give away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-williams/i-didn-t-lose-my-mind-it-was-mine-to-give-away/)

[Robbie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-williams/)

> [“mind her when I’m away?’ I stayed overnight in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/mind-her-when-i-m-away-i-stayed-overnight-in/)

[Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/)

> [“I didnt loose my mind, it was mine to give away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-williams/i-didnt-loose-my-mind-it-was-mine-to-give-away/)

[Robbie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-williams/)

> [Negative feelings and negative thoughts keep peace of mind away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/negative-feelings-and-negative-thoughts-keep-peace-of-mind-away/)

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

> [He will roll the stone away from your mind and away from your heart. He will give you his light with power and might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/he-will-roll-the-stone-away-from-your-mind-and-away-from-your-heart/)

[Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/)

> [It cut's me deep every time When a thought crosses my mind That I'm away from you But, when I really think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kler/it-cut-s-me-deep-every-time-when-a-thought-crosses-my-mind-that-i-m/)

[Nick Kler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kler/)

> [We are taught to get used to pain, and we are conditioned to live life negatively. Thank God I have my music to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/we-are-taught-to-get-used-to-pain-and-we-are-conditioned-to-live-life/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [This is a revolution of the mind, get your mind together and get away from drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/this-is-a-revolution-of-the-mind-get-your-mind-together-and-get-away/)

[James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/)

> [“I took a few dragging steps toward the locker-room door. 'You're doing something to me that I wouldn't do to a dog,' I mumbled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/i-took-a-few-dragging-steps-toward-the-locker-room-door-you-re-doing/)

[Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/)

> [To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books; they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-distract-myself-from-tiresome-thoughts-i-have-only-to-resort-to/)

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

> [Worries, fears, desires, restlessness, nervousness drive peace of mind away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worries-fears-desires-restlessness-nervousness-drive-peace-of-mind/)

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

> [“Ben Says: Make up your mind &amp; do away with your fears or your fears will do away with you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/ben-says-make-up-your-mind-do-away-with-your-fears-or-your-fears-will/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [When you are away I try to keep my mind away from you but its like magnet. I can't help but think about you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/when-you-are-away-i-try-to-keep-my-mind-away-from-you-but-its-like/)

[Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/)

> [Do not hurt her heart with pain rather hurt her tummy with laughter because that's the only pain she can proudly call worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-hurt-her-heart-with-pain-rather-hurt-her-tummy-with-laughter/)

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

## More by Alice Clayton

> [“Think I even noticed that I had a forehead full of sofa? Hell no, I had a Wallbanger kneeling between my legs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/think-i-even-noticed-that-i-had-a-forehead-full-of-sofa-hell-no-i-had/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“But when you go weeks without that same 190 pounds in your bed, the truth is, it felt kind of nice to sleep underneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/but-when-you-go-weeks-without-that-same-190-pounds-in-your-bed-the/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“Stop it. If you say sorry one more time I'm gonna go find something of yours and pee on it, I swear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/stop-it-if-you-say-sorry-one-more-time-i-m-gonna-go-find-something-of/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Anything?” I turned to face him, as he stepped inside. “No water, no tea, but there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/can-i-get-you-anything-water-tea-anything-i-turned-to-face-him-as-he/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“I turned to kiss his fingertips. He stared into my eyes again, those sex sapphires doing their voodoo that made me a puddle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-turned-to-kiss-his-fingertips-he-stared-into-my-eyes-again-those/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“I will play Truth or Dare, you sucker, until you can't tell your truth from your dare. -CAROLINE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-will-play-truth-or-dare-you-sucker-until-you-can-t-tell-your-truth/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“My shirt bunched up around my waist, and the feeling of his hi-there against my hoohah was indescribable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/my-shirt-bunched-up-around-my-waist-and-the-feeling-of-his-hi-there/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“I got into Jillian's Mercedes and drove back across the bridge to wait for my art installation. Which never showed up. Hey, art installation?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-got-into-jillian-s-mercedes-and-drove-back-across-the-bridge-to/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“Looking back now, how fucking stupid was I not to see what was going on? But when you were in it, you didn’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/looking-back-now-how-fucking-stupid-was-i-not-to-see-what-was-going/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“Huh. Fancy meeting you here," I teased. "I recall telling you that I had a meeting with Holly this morning. Coincidence?" "Sheridan, that's rubbish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/huh-fancy-meeting-you-here-i-teased-i-recall-telling-you-that-i-had-a/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“Why the hell do you love me so much? Seriously, I am fucked up and nuts,” I said into his chest, still wet from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/why-the-hell-do-you-love-me-so-much-seriously-i-am-fucked-up-and-nuts/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“I started to roll my eyes, but that hurt. The right one was pressed so firmly against the peephole, you see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-started-to-roll-my-eyes-but-that-hurt-the-right-one-was-pressed-so/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“I’m so proud of you,” Sophia said when I’d finished. Mimi nodded in agreement. “For what?” “Caroline, there was a time when if James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-m-so-proud-of-you-sophia-said-when-i-d-finished-mimi-nodded-in/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“ The guy looks young enough to be your kid, Grace. Yes, but only if I’d really slutted it up in junior high…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/the-guy-looks-young-enough-to-be-your-kid-grace-yes-but-only-if-i-d/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“You give good woo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/you-give-good-woo/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

[Explore all 187 Alice Clayton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

## More Bad memories quotes

> [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/)

[Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/)

> [“You must learn to release and let go of the hurt of the past it serves you no purpose you are only hurting yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-cooney/you-must-learn-to-release-and-let-go-of-the-hurt-of-the-past-it/)

[Marian Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-cooney/)

> [Start everyday with a new hope leave bad memories behind and have faith for a better tomorrow …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-dolmo/start-everyday-with-a-new-hope-leave-bad-memories-behind-and-have/)

[Alexa Dolmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-dolmo/)

> [“I felt my heart skip a beat, just one, but it was enough that I took notice. It was nice to know that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-felt-my-heart-skip-a-beat-just-one-but-it-was-enough-that-i-took/)

[C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/)

> [I want the same one, the way she always is, without failures, without fights, without bad memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-want-the-same-one-the-way-she-always-is-without-failures-without/)

[Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“In a war between races, nobody wins,” Vincent sighed, “and Agatha lost dearly . As we all did, on all sides. You were guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/in-a-war-between-races-nobody-wins-vincent-sighed-and-agatha-lost/)

[Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/)

> [“Life is this one gigantic ball full of heartaches, breakups, both good and bad memories, make-up and falling love. it's messy but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-this-one-gigantic-ball-full-of-heartaches-breakups-both-good/)

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

> [Always remember all the beautiful things happened, that gives big smile in our face,. Especially don't forget the bad memories,,that give us strenght and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ailenecaballero/always-remember-all-the-beautiful-things-happened-that-gives-big/)

[Ailenecaballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ailenecaballero/)

> [Live in the moment, where everything is just right, take your time and limit your bad memories and you'll get wherever it is you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/live-in-the-moment-where-everything-is-just-right-take-your-time-and/)

[J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/)

> [I've got a prostate the size of a honeydew and a head full of bad memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stiller/i-ve-got-a-prostate-the-size-of-a-honeydew-and-a-head-full-of-bad/)

[Jerry Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stiller/)

> [“Time made apologies and absolution unnecessary. Time didn't really heal, it just made bad memories distant so that the brain couldn't recapture the lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amulya-malladi/time-made-apologies-and-absolution-unnecessary-time-didn-t-really/)

[Amulya Malladi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amulya-malladi/)

> [Good relationships are ones that you don't see bad memories because you are having a good time with that person that makes you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-im/good-relationships-are-ones-that-you-don-t-see-bad-memories-because/)

[Ian Im](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-im/)

> [“We don’t have to relive the sad and bad memories of Christmas Past. We can create new Christmas memories in the present for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-north/we-don-t-have-to-relive-the-sad-and-bad-memories-of-christmas-past-we/)

[Tom North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-north/)

> [“I have always had a bad memory, as far back as I can remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/i-have-always-had-a-bad-memory-as-far-back-as-i-can-remember/)

[Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/)

[Browse all 141 Bad memories quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-memories/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“When there was pain or hurt, or bad memories crowded in, work could be a literal lifeline, taking your mind away from what you couldn't deal with and channeling it into something good, something tangible.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alice Clayton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memories-crowded-in-work-could-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad memories"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memories-crowded-in-work-could-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/alice-clayton-2074_bad-memories_when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memor_909367.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When there was pain or hurt, or bad memories crowded in, work could be a literal lifeline, taking your mind…” — Alice Clayton",
                "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": "Alice Clayton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When there was pain or hurt, or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memories-crowded-in-work-could-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/when-there-was-pain-or-hurt-or-bad-memories-crowded-in-work-could-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
