--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may look as if the situation is…" description: "\"It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering, but ultimately this is not so - your resistance is.\" — Eckhart Tolle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg" --- # It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering… ![“It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering, but ultimately this is not so - your resistance is.” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg) > “It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering, but ultimately this is not so - your resistance is.” [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering arises from inner resistance, not external circumstances; letting go ends pain. **In simple terms:** Pain comes from resisting reality. Key Takeaway Release resistance to end suffering. Themes mindfulness acceptance inner peace Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stressful work - relationship conflict - health challenges - personal growth Key Concepts non‑attachment ego consciousness Questions to Reflect On - What resistance are you holding onto? - How might acceptance change your experience? A Different Perspective Resistance can be hard to notice when habits are entrenched. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-suffering-1183933/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-ultimately-4260269/) [Ultimately Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately-resistance-4642985/) ## Related quotes > [The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-struggle-for-freedom-is-ultimately-not-resistance-to-autocrats-or/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [If you are not in the state of either acceptance, enjoyment, or enthusiasm, look closely and you will find that you are creating suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-you-are-not-in-the-state-of-either-acceptance-enjoyment-or/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“If you are in the habit of creating suffering for yourself, you are probably creating suffering for others too. These unconscious mind patterns tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-you-are-in-the-habit-of-creating-suffering-for-yourself-you-are/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [If you are in the habit of creating suffering for yourself, then you are probably creating suffering for others too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-you-are-in-the-habit-of-creating-suffering-for-yourself-then-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“If in the midst of negativity you are able to realize “At this moment I am creating suffering for myself” it will be enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-in-the-midst-of-negativity-you-are-able-to-realize-at-this-moment/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We are social animals. Others' suffering is ultimately your suffering; their happiness is ultimately your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-are-social-animals-others-suffering-is-ultimately-your-suffering/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I think the function of suffering is to let me know that my perception is skewed; what I’m doing is judging natural events in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/i-think-the-function-of-suffering-is-to-let-me-know-that-my/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [The mental suffering you create is always some form of non-acceptance, some form of unconscious resistance to what is. On the level of thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-mental-suffering-you-create-is-always-some-form-of-non-acceptance/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You don't need to suffer anymore. You've suffered enough to take you to this point where you hear the words, "You don't need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-don-t-need-to-suffer-anymore-you-ve-suffered-enough-to-take-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Acceptance of what is immediately frees you from mind identification and thus reconnects you with Being. Resistance is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/acceptance-of-what-is-immediately-frees-you-from-mind-identification/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Resistance is weakness and fear masquerading as strength. What the ego sees as weakness is your Being in its purity, innocence, and power. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/resistance-is-weakness-and-fear-masquerading-as-strength-what-the-ego/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whatever you accept completely will take you to peace, including the acceptance that you cannot accept, that you are in resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whatever-you-accept-completely-will-take-you-to-peace-including-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You might say, 'What a dreadful day', without realizing that the cold, the wind, and the rain or whatever condition you react to are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-might-say-what-a-dreadful-day-without-realizing-that-the-cold-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness. This state is then no longer dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-offer-no-resistance-to-life-is-to-be-in-a-state-of-grace-ease-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Eckhart Tolle > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“A powerful spiritual practice is consciously to allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. I recommend that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/a-powerful-spiritual-practice-is-consciously-to-allow-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [To become aware of the subtlety of nature you need to be alert. The moment you become alert you become still... thinking subsides. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-become-aware-of-the-subtlety-of-nature-you-need-to-be-alert-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/life-will-give-you-whatever-experience-is-most-helpful-for-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You may not yet be able to bring your unconscious mind activity into awareness as thoughts, but it will always be reflected in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-may-not-yet-be-able-to-bring-your-unconscious-mind-activity-into/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“War is a mind-set, and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy, the perceived evil, or, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/war-is-a-mind-set-and-all-action-that-comes-out-of-such-a-mind-set/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Get the inside right, and the outside will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/get-the-inside-right-and-the-outside-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-people-spend-their-entire-life-imprisoned-within-the-confines-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Let the end of the world be inside you, then you don't need to fear the end of the world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/let-the-end-of-the-world-be-inside-you-then-you-don-t-need-to-fear/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Jeste li zabrinuti? Razmišljate li često: »Što bi bilo da sam...?« To znači da ste se poistovjetili s umom, koji se projicira u neku…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/jeste-li-zabrinuti-razmi-ljate-li-esto-to-bi-bilo-da-sam-to-zna-i-da/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Explore all 1,493 Eckhart Tolle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More Creating quotes > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [People who are creating history don't realize they're creating it at the time it's happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dreymon/people-who-are-creating-history-don-t-realize-they-re-creating-it-at/) [Alexander Dreymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dreymon/) > [When I am creating art, I have absolutely no social responsibility. It's like dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/when-i-am-creating-art-i-have-absolutely-no-social-responsibility-it/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [“It didn’t matter that the scarves weren’t even all that special or great or that I was making far too many to actually keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-vercillo/it-didn-t-matter-that-the-scarves-weren-t-even-all-that-special-or/) [Kathryn Vercillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-vercillo/) > [I think, if I had my choice, I would spend all my time in the studio writing, and creating music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-condon/i-think-if-i-had-my-choice-i-would-spend-all-my-time-in-the-studio/) [Zach Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-condon/) > [Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/your-problem-is-how-you-are-going-to-spend-this-one-odd-and-precious/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The ultimate goal of radical politics is gradually to displace the limit of social exclusions, empowering the excluded agents (sexual and ethnic minorities) by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-ultimate-goal-of-radical-politics-is-gradually-to-displace-the/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Creating a top team and being in a position to win the Tour de France will give me a nice feeling. But I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/creating-a-top-team-and-being-in-a-position-to-win-the-tour-de-france/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [Intimacy requires an ability to both merge and be separate, to come together and be apart, like oscillating on a giant swing from oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/intimacy-requires-an-ability-to-both-merge-and-be-separate-to-come/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) > [Creating something new is easy, creating something that lasts is the challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-braun/creating-something-new-is-easy-creating-something-that-lasts-is-the/) [Adam Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-braun/) [Browse all 3,972 Creating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering, but ultimately this is not so - your resistance is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eckhart Tolle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creating-the-suffering-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creating-the-suffering-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/eckhart-tolle-81_creating_it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creat_3160410.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering, but ultimately this is not so - your resistance is.” — Eckhart Tolle", "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": "Eckhart Tolle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It may look as if the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creating-the-suffering-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-may-look-as-if-the-situation-is-creating-the-suffering-but/#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 } } ] } ```