--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything in our lives has the potential…" description: "\"Everything in our lives has the potential to wake us up or put us to sleep. Allowing it to awaken us is up to us.\" — Pema Chodron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/pema-ch-dr-n-327_allowing_everything-in-our-lives-has-the-potentia_2253285.png" --- # Everything in our lives has the potential to wake us up or… ![“Everything in our lives has the potential to wake us up or put us to sleep. Allowing it to awaken us is up to us.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/pema-ch-dr-n-327_allowing_everything-in-our-lives-has-the-potentia_2253285.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/pema-ch-dr-n-327_allowing_everything-in-our-lives-has-the-potentia_2253285.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/pema-ch-dr-n-327_allowing_everything-in-our-lives-has-the-potentia_2253285.png) > “Everything in our lives has the potential to wake us up or put us to sleep. Allowing it to awaken us is up to us.” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our experiences can either energize or dull us; awareness determines which effect we experience. **In simple terms:** Life can awaken or numb us. Key Takeaway Choose awareness to stay alert. Themes mindfulness choice awareness Mood contemplative calm Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily routines - relationships - work environments - media consumption Key Concepts Buddhist philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What habits numb you? - How can you turn routine moments into wake‑up calls? 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Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. 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