Causes Quote by Hubert Selby, Jr
“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 such a way that I am creating suffering within myself. For instance, you have pain over certain conditions, certain situations that occur. And if you just say ‘ok, here I am, I’m going to experience the pain,’ you don’t suffer. The resistance and the degree of the resistance to the natural phenomenon of life causes tremendous suffering.”
About This Quote
Suffering arises when we judge natural events, creating mental resistance that amplifies pain.
In simple terms: Judging life creates extra pain.
Key Takeaway
Accept events without judgment.
Themes
suffering
perception
mindfulness
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- health challenges
- relationship conflicts
- grief
- stress management
Key Concepts
cognitive distortion
acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you notice judgmental thoughts?
- What does acceptance feel like in pain?
A Different Perspective
If the event is truly harmful, resistance may be protective.
![“[D]on’t cling to your self-righteous suffering, let it go. . . . Nothing is too good to be true, let yourself be forgiven. To the degree you insist that you must suffer, you insist on the suffering of others as well. (90)” quote by Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23f/stephen-levine-6949_being-true_d-on-t-cling-to-your-self-righteous-suff_2009341.jpg)
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)