--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we find ourselves in a situation in…" description: "\"“When we find ourselves in a situation in which our buttons are being pushed, we can choose to repress or act out, or we can choose to practice. If we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/chogyam-trungpa-1373_anger_when-we-find-ourselves-in-a-situation-in_2967005.jpg" --- # When we find ourselves in a situation in which our buttons… ![“When we find ourselves in a situation in which our buttons are being pushed, we can choose to repress or act out, or we can choose to practice. If we can start to do the exchange, breathing in with the intention of keeping our hearts open to the embarrassment or fear or anger that we feel, then to…” quote by Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/chogyam-trungpa-1373_anger_when-we-find-ourselves-in-a-situation-in_2967005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/chogyam-trungpa-1373_anger_when-we-find-ourselves-in-a-situation-in_2967005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/chogyam-trungpa-1373_anger_when-we-find-ourselves-in-a-situation-in_2967005.jpg) > ““When we find ourselves in a situation in which our buttons are being pushed, we can choose to repress or act out, or we can choose to practice. If we can start to do the exchange, breathing in with the intention of keeping our hearts open to the embarrassment or fear or anger that we feel, then to our surprise we find that we are also open to what the other person is feeling. Open heart is open heart.”” [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When provoked, we can either react or respond with open-hearted breathing, which creates mutual empathy and reduces conflict. **In simple terms:** Choose calm breathing over reaction to stay open to others' feelings. Key Takeaway Practice mindful breathing in tense moments. Themes compassion mindfulness conflict resolution emotional intelligence Mood calm empathetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - stressful conversations - family arguments - customer service - team meetings Key Concepts Buddhist psychology emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How can you remember to breathe when emotions surge? - What does open heart feel like in conflict? A Different Perspective May be difficult to maintain open heart under intense anger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Open heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-heart/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) ## Related quotes > [When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being. Youre able to keep your eyes open, your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-open-yourself-to-the-continually-changing-impermanent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The most difficult work of leadership involves learning to experience distress without numbing yourself. The virtue of a sacred heart lies in the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-linsky/the-most-difficult-work-of-leadership-involves-learning-to-experience/) [Martin Linsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-linsky/) > [Open your heart as you open your window in the summer time you might be surprised what blows your way..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/open-your-heart-as-you-open-your-window-in-the-summer-time-you-might/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [So war and peace start in the human heart. Whether that heart is open or whether that heart closes has global implications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-war-and-peace-start-in-the-human-heart-whether-that-heart-is-open/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [First open your heart, then open your Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/first-open-your-heart-then-open-your-bible/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Life can't give to you if your hands are closed. Open your mind, open your heart, and open your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/life-can-t-give-to-you-if-your-hands-are-closed-open-your-mind-open/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [My heart will always be an open heart for you sweetheart, no knocking needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-heart-will-always-be-an-open-heart-for-you-sweetheart-no-knocking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being and of reality, you increase your capacity to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-you-open-yourself-to-the-continually-changing-impermanent-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [ “\[There is a\] kind of all-embracing universality evident in Mother Teresa’s prayer: “May God break my heart so completely that the whole world falls… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/there-is-a-kind-of-all-embracing-universality-evident-in-mother/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [There is no pain quite like that of a broken heart. But a broken heart is an open heart. When we allow ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/there-is-no-pain-quite-like-that-of-a-broken-heart-but-a-broken-heart/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [Love won't come through unless the heart is open. To work with an open heart is to love or care for something or someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/love-won-t-come-through-unless-the-heart-is-open-to-work-with-an-open/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [The Open Hearts design was inspired by my Mom's advice that only when you keep your heart open can you best give and receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/the-open-hearts-design-was-inspired-by-my-mom-s-advice-that-only-when/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [After the briskness of loving, loving stops. And you roll over with death stretched out alongside you like a feather boa, or a snake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-minot/after-the-briskness-of-loving-loving-stops-and-you-roll-over-with/) [Susan Minot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-minot/) > [Behind every open heart is a story. Tell yours with my Open Heart collection. There are millions of reasons to give one, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/behind-every-open-heart-is-a-story-tell-yours-with-my-open-heart/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [Some people say that our salvation lies with God, or with God's Son, yet is not the human heart the place where such Divinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/some-people-say-that-our-salvation-lies-with-god-or-with-god-s-son/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## More by Chogyam Trungpa > [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/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [When you drop your unnecessary things, you finally can swoop and fly in vast space. It is so blue, so bright, and so nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-you-drop-your-unnecessary-things-you-finally-can-swoop-and-fly/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Anything that is created must sooner or later die. Enlightenment is permanent because we have not produced it; we have merely discovered it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/anything-that-is-created-must-sooner-or-later-die-enlightenment-is/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [“There is a saying in the Tibetan scriptures: “Knowledge must be burned, hammered, and beaten like pure gold. Then one can wear it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/there-is-a-saying-in-the-tibetan-scriptures-knowledge-must-be-burned/) [Chögyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [“Warriorship is a continual journey. To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/warriorship-is-a-continual-journey-to-be-a-warrior-is-to-learn-to-be/) [Chögyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [The courage to work with ourselves comes as basic trust in ourselves, as a sort of fundamental optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/the-courage-to-work-with-ourselves-comes-as-basic-trust-in-ourselves/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Enlightenment is like witnessing the brilliant sun for the first time in the morning. It is like seeing the beautiful flowers that grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/enlightenment-is-like-witnessing-the-brilliant-sun-for-the-first-time/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ If you look into the mirror, you see that \[every part of you\] belongs there and you belong there, as you are. You begin… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/if-you-look-into-the-mirror-you-see-that-every-part-of-you-belongs/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [This whole world is mind's world, the product of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/this-whole-world-is-mind-s-world-the-product-of-the-mind/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [When one is able to overcome the romantic and emotional attitude, one discovers truth even in the kitchen sink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-one-is-able-to-overcome-the-romantic-and-emotional-attitude-one/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [One day passes and another day comes along, and everything happens the same. But basically, we are so afraid of the brilliance coming at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/one-day-passes-and-another-day-comes-along-and-everything-happens-the/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the world tickle your heart, your raw and beautiful heart. You are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/real-fearlessness-is-the-product-of-tenderness-it-comes-from-letting/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are developing spirituality when instead we are strengthening our egocentricity through spiritual techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-can-deceive-ourselves-into-thinking-we-are-developing-spirituality/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) [Explore all 248 Chogyam Trungpa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we find ourselves in a situation in which our buttons are being pushed, we can choose to repress or act out, or we can choose to practice. If we can start to do the exchange, breathing in with the intention of keeping our hearts open to the embarrassment or fear or anger that we feel, then to our surprise we find that we are also open to what the other person is feeling. 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