--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear is a natural reaction of moving…" description: "\"Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth. If we commit ourselves to staying right where we are, then our experience becomes very vivid...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/pema-ch-dr-n-327_clear_fear-is-a-natural-reaction-of-moving-clo_1717124.png" --- # Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth… ![“Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth. If we commit ourselves to staying right where we are, then our experience becomes very vivid. Things become very clear when there is nowhere to escape.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/pema-ch-dr-n-327_clear_fear-is-a-natural-reaction-of-moving-clo_1717124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/pema-ch-dr-n-327_clear_fear-is-a-natural-reaction-of-moving-clo_1717124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/pema-ch-dr-n-327_clear_fear-is-a-natural-reaction-of-moving-clo_1717124.png) > “Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth. If we commit ourselves to staying right where we are, then our experience becomes very vivid. Things become very clear when there is nowhere to escape.” [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. Fear arises when we approach truth; staying stagnant makes experience vivid, forcing clarity when escape is impossible. **In simple terms:** Fear signals proximity to truth; staying still sharpens perception. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to discover truth. Themes spirituality psychology growth mindfulness Mood calm inspired Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - Therapy - meditation - personal development - coaching - decision making Key Concepts Fear as a guide truth seeking acceptance of impermanence Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you avoiding? - How can you transform fear into insight? A Different Perspective Avoiding fear can lead to stagnation; not all truths are beneficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Moving closer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-closer/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Vivid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vivid/) ## Related quotes > [Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/fear-is-a-natural-reaction-to-moving-closer-to-the-truth/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's not a terrible thing that we feel fear when faced with the unknown. It is a part of being alive, something we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-not-a-terrible-thing-that-we-feel-fear-when-faced-with-the-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The peculiar property of truth is never to commit excesses. What need has it of exaggeration? There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-peculiar-property-of-truth-is-never-to-commit-excesses-what-need/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Fear can be a natural ally, a homemade power source... Staying in the present, fear can only help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/fear-can-be-a-natural-ally-a-homemade-power-source-staying-in-the/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Affirmations are like screaming that you're okay in order to overcome this whisper that you're not. That's a big contrast to actually uncovering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/affirmations-are-like-screaming-that-you-re-okay-in-order-to-overcome/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [She was the sort of person for whom fear was the natural response to that beyond explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/she-was-the-sort-of-person-for-whom-fear-was-the-natural-response-to/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [Fear is natural. Failure is normal. But Fear of Failure is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collins-hasty/fear-is-natural-failure-is-normal-but-fear-of-failure-is-a-choice/) [Collins Hasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collins-hasty/) > [Fear is natural. Be with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-leonard/fear-is-natural-be-with-it/) [Thomas Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-leonard/) > [“Fear is natural because one is moving in darkness. The inner journey is very dark. Light comes but that is only at the end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/fear-is-natural-because-one-is-moving-in-darkness-the-inner-journey/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Oliver: Fear is the natural state of anything that dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/oliver-fear-is-the-natural-state-of-anything-that-dies/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Any device whatever by which one frees himself from the fear of others is a natural good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/any-device-whatever-by-which-one-frees-himself-from-the-fear-of/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [I think fear is one of the natural states of most actors, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-think-fear-is-one-of-the-natural-states-of-most-actors-to-be-honest/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [“Do you think I'm somehow healthier because I don't know how to repress? Is it possible that constant fear is the natural state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/do-you-think-i-m-somehow-healthier-because-i-don-t-know-how-to/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [People are taught to fear god. They are taught to fear everything. It has become such a natural state that no one questions it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-are-taught-to-fear-god-they-are-taught-to-fear-everything-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. 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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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