--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is one thing I've learned in…" description: "\"If there is one thing I've learned in thirty years as a psychotherapist, it is this: If you can let your experience happen, it will release its knots a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/john-welwood-16872_deeper_if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-th_2902101.png" --- # If there is one thing I've learned in thirty years as a… ![“If there is one thing I've learned in thirty years as a psychotherapist, it is this: If you can let your experience happen, it will release its knots and unfold, leading to a deeper, more grounded experience of yourself. No matter how painful or scary your feelings appear to be, your willingness…” quote by John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/john-welwood-16872_deeper_if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-th_2902101.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/john-welwood-16872_deeper_if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-th_2902101.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/john-welwood-16872_deeper_if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-th_2902101.png) > “If there is one thing I've learned in thirty years as a psychotherapist, it is this: If you can let your experience happen, it will release its knots and unfold, leading to a deeper, more grounded experience of yourself. No matter how painful or scary your feelings appear to be, your willingness to engage with them draws forth your essential strength, leading in a more life-positive direction.” [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Allowing feelings to surface releases tension, fostering deeper self‑understanding and resilience. **In simple terms:** Facing emotions uncovers strength. Key Takeaway Embrace feelings to grow. Themes self‑awareness resilience psychotherapy Mood reflective hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal crisis - self‑reflection Key Concepts emotional processing mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What emotions are you avoiding? - How might acceptance change your outlook? A Different Perspective Ignoring pain can deepen wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Perfect love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-love/) [Psychotherapists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychotherapists/) [Things i've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-i-ve-learned/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [“If the whole universe is pegged to the human experience, what will happen once the human experience becomes just another designable product, no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/if-the-whole-universe-is-pegged-to-the-human-experience-what-will/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [I grew up with a very grounded experience being in the country, being around a lot of nature, and having just very down-to-earth people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/i-grew-up-with-a-very-grounded-experience-being-in-the-country-being/) [Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/) > [Being in Nirvana was amazing an experience that will never happen again for me. And I look on them as some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/being-in-nirvana-was-amazing-an-experience-that-will-never-happen/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [You can't have the word 'fantasy' or 'fantastical' without a contrast. It has to stem from a grounded experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-trank/you-can-t-have-the-word-fantasy-or-fantastical-without-a-contrast-it/) [Josh Trank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-trank/) > [Let experience, the least fallible guide of human opinion, be appealed to for an answer to these inquiries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/let-experience-the-least-fallible-guide-of-human-opinion-be-appealed/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“The future isn't certain so dream as big as you can. Let yourself go and experience life as if every day were your last,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kpknupp/the-future-isn-t-certain-so-dream-as-big-as-you-can-let-yourself-go/) [KPKnupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kpknupp/) > [Detachment doesn’t mean you don’t let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That’s how you are able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/detachment-doesn-t-mean-you-don-t-let-the-experience-penetrate-you-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Life is always changing. Let your experience be your guide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-always-changing-let-your-experience-be-your-guide/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“If I loved myself truly and deeply, would I let myself experience this?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/if-i-loved-myself-truly-and-deeply-would-i-let-myself-experience-this/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [Simply let experience take place very freely, so that your open heart is suffused with the tenderness of true compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/simply-let-experience-take-place-very-freely-so-that-your-open-heart/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) > [We should never let our experience influence what we think about our potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/we-should-never-let-our-experience-influence-what-we-think-about-our/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If you tell me, I will listen. If you show me, I will see. If you let me experience, I will learn!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-you-tell-me-i-will-listen-if-you-show-me-i-will-see-if-you-let-me/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Let the experience begin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/let-the-experience-begin/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [“Advises are useless cause the best way for a person to learn its to let them experience it themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-yong/advises-are-useless-cause-the-best-way-for-a-person-to-learn-its-to/) Sam Yong > [I think it is best to let the experience you have with a teacher direct itself, Instead of trying to make the experience into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-it-is-best-to-let-the-experience-you-have-with-a-teacher/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by John Welwood > [At any moment, whatever we are experiencing, only one of two things is ever happening: either we are being with what is, or else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/at-any-moment-whatever-we-are-experiencing-only-one-of-two-things-is/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Love is the recognition of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/love-is-the-recognition-of-beauty/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [We may tell ourselves that love is not really available. but the deeper truth is that we don't entirely trust it, and therefore have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/we-may-tell-ourselves-that-love-is-not-really-available-but-the/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Meditation provides a way of learning how to let go. As we sit, the self we've been trying to construct and make into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/meditation-provides-a-way-of-learning-how-to-let-go-as-we-sit-the/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Not knowing that we can be loved for who we truly are prevents us from trusting in love itself, and this in turn causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/not-knowing-that-we-can-be-loved-for-who-we-truly-are-prevents-us/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [“Like the sun's rays that cause the seed to stir within its husk, love's radiant energy penetrates the facade of the false self, calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/like-the-sun-s-rays-that-cause-the-seed-to-stir-within-its-husk-love/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Frank Berliners spiritual memoir is beautifully crafted and written. It is a tale about love, and the great longing that springs from there—to learn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/frank-berliners-spiritual-memoir-is-beautifully-crafted-and-written/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [The words "I love you," spoken in moments of genuine appreciation, wonder, or caring arise from something perfectly pure within us - the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/the-words-i-love-you-spoken-in-moments-of-genuine-appreciation-wonder/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [You are flawed, you are stuck in old patterns, you become carried away with yourself. Indeed you are quite impossible in many ways. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/you-are-flawed-you-are-stuck-in-old-patterns-you-become-carried-away/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Awareness born of love is the only force that can bring healing and renewal. Out of our love for another person, we become more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/awareness-born-of-love-is-the-only-force-that-can-bring-healing-and/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Boundless love always manages somehow to sparkle through your limited form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/boundless-love-always-manages-somehow-to-sparkle-through-your-limited/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [Great love -- the kind that illumines and transforms us -- always includes a keen awareness of limitation as well. Though love may inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/great-love-the-kind-that-illumines-and-transforms-us-always-includes/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [The warm and radiant yes of the heart is perfect, like the sun, in bringing all things to life and nourishing all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/the-warm-and-radiant-yes-of-the-heart-is-perfect-like-the-sun-in/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [A relationship that has any depth and power at all will inevitably penetrate our usual shield of defenses, exposing our most tender and sensitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/a-relationship-that-has-any-depth-and-power-at-all-will-inevitably/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) > [In recognizing exactly where we have been unconscious, we become more conscious. And in seeing and feeling the ways we've gone dead, we start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welwood/in-recognizing-exactly-where-we-have-been-unconscious-we-become-more/) [John Welwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) [Explore all 38 John Welwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welwood/) ## More Deeper quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Schools must inquire deeper into their own practices, explore new ways to motivate their learners, make use of learning styles, introduce multiple intelligences, integrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/schools-must-inquire-deeper-into-their-own-practices-explore-new-ways/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [It's bluesy, rocky jazz. I call it soul music, but it's not James Brown soul music. It comes from my soul. It comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinsel-korey/it-s-bluesy-rocky-jazz-i-call-it-soul-music-but-it-s-not-james-brown/) [Tinsel Korey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinsel-korey/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [“It is usually easier to see what lies on the surface of a person rather than taking the time and attention to delve deeper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/it-is-usually-easier-to-see-what-lies-on-the-surface-of-a-person/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [As to London we must console ourselves with the thought that if life outside is less poetic than it was in the days of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/as-to-london-we-must-console-ourselves-with-the-thought-that-if-life/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [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/) > [Each day my love grows deeper, deeper than I never thought before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-day-my-love-grows-deeper-deeper-than-i-never-thought-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what I was thinking about on my way home? How different my life would be if you’d made that gash a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/you-know-what-i-was-thinking-about-on-my-way-home-how-different-my/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [When we have the same thought again, the line of the original thought is deepened, causing what's called a memory trace. With each repetition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/when-we-have-the-same-thought-again-the-line-of-the-original-thought/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [I would say 'Home' is a lot richer and deeper than my earlier classical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anoushka-shankar/i-would-say-home-is-a-lot-richer-and-deeper-than-my-earlier-classical/) [Anoushka Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anoushka-shankar/) Browse all 2,332 Deeper quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is one thing I've learned in thirty years as a psychotherapist, it is this: If you can let your experience happen, it will release its knots and unfold, leading to a deeper, more grounded experience of yourself. 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