--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finding the courage to go to the places…" description: "\"Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us cannot happen without compassionate inquiry into the workings of ego... Openness doesn't come fro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/pema-ch-dr-n-327_compassionate_finding-the-courage-to-go-to-the-places_2852544.png" --- # Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us… ![“Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us cannot happen without compassionate inquiry into the workings of ego... Openness doesn't come from resisting our fears but from getting to know them well.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/pema-ch-dr-n-327_compassionate_finding-the-courage-to-go-to-the-places_2852544.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/pema-ch-dr-n-327_compassionate_finding-the-courage-to-go-to-the-places_2852544.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/pema-ch-dr-n-327_compassionate_finding-the-courage-to-go-to-the-places_2852544.png) > “Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us cannot happen without compassionate inquiry into the workings of ego... Openness doesn't come from resisting our fears but from getting to know them well.” [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. Facing fear requires compassionate self‑inquiry rather than avoidance, leading to genuine openness. **In simple terms:** Know fear with compassion. Key Takeaway Practice compassionate self‑inquiry. Themes courage self‑awareness compassion Mood calm thoughtful Type spiritual psychological When to use this quote - therapy session - meditation retreat - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts ego mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you compassionately explore a current fear? - What practices help you stay present with anxiety? A Different Perspective Fear can still paralyze without actionable steps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Ego Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-openness-3803840/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Finding Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-courage-245687/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiry/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [Openness Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness-doesn-2569260/) [Resisting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resisting/) [Resisting Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resisting-fears-3607367/) [Scare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scare/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Openness doesn’t come from resisting our fears but rather from getting to know them well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/openness-doesn-t-come-from-resisting-our-fears-but-rather-from/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The Buddha taught that flexibility and openness bring strength and that running from groundlessness weakens us and brings pain. But do we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-buddha-taught-that-flexibility-and-openness-bring-strength-and/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Some people come to the edge of the cliff and they look over, then run away in fear. They never realize it's possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dobbs/some-people-come-to-the-edge-of-the-cliff-and-they-look-over-then-run/) [Michael Dobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dobbs/) > [“Sometimes the hardest thing any of us can hope for is finding the courage to be honest with ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kira-saito/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-any-of-us-can-hope-for-is-finding-the/) [Kira Saito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kira-saito/) > [“Finding the courage to break away from other people’s opinions, and your self-limiting thoughts, could be the most significant breakthrough transformation you make on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/finding-the-courage-to-break-away-from-other-people-s-opinions-and/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [“Sometimes we must take the smallest step before finding the courage to leap.” “Frances,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-nolfi/sometimes-we-must-take-the-smallest-step-before-finding-the-courage/) [Christine Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-nolfi/) > [To die for someone is easy, the real challenge is finding the courage to live for someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-die-for-someone-is-easy-the-real-challenge-is-finding-the-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life in District 12 isn’t really so different from life in the arena. At some point, you have to stop running and turn around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/life-in-district-12-isn-t-really-so-different-from-life-in-the-arena-2/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Love is about finding courage inside of you that you didn’t even know was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-flackett/love-is-about-finding-courage-inside-of-you-that-you-didn-t-even-know/) [Jennifer Flackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-flackett/) > [“Vicki is a young woman who through the sheer exuberance of her imagination is prone to exaggeration. Will, being a steady young man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-pashley/vicki-is-a-young-woman-who-through-the-sheer-exuberance-of-her/) [Ava Pashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-pashley/) > [Wisdom comes from intent, experience, and finding courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-doc-paskowitz/wisdom-comes-from-intent-experience-and-finding-courage/) [Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-doc-paskowitz/) > [“The hardest part of doing anything new is finding the courage to decide to at least try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-van-horn/the-hardest-part-of-doing-anything-new-is-finding-the-courage-to/) [Bruce Van Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-van-horn/) > [The journey to happiness involves finding the courage to go down into ourselves and take responsibility for what's there: all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-journey-to-happiness-involves-finding-the-courage-to-go-down-into/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [ “\[…\] we can’t make a decision between being sad for a little while and being wretched for the rest of our lives. Or rather… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jun-ichir-tanizaki/we-can-t-make-a-decision-between-being-sad-for-a-little-while-and/) [Jun'ichirō Tanizaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jun-ichir-tanizaki/) > [At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.The hard thing is finding the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/at-some-point-you-have-to-stop-running-and-turn-around-and-face/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## 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. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. 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. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Compassionate quotes > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A hard heart makes for hard judgments; a compassionate heart understands the humanity of the one we presume to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/a-hard-heart-makes-for-hard-judgments-a-compassionate-heart/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“Seeing human suffering changes you. It either makes you compassionate or it makes you hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wilson-howarth/seeing-human-suffering-changes-you-it-either-makes-you-compassionate/) [Jane Wilson-Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wilson-howarth/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-enough-to-be-compassionate-we-must-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [ \[Chinese\] are a huge empire now, you'll soon be - in a few years two billion people in the world. So, you should be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/chinese-are-a-huge-empire-now-you-ll-soon-be-in-a-few-years-two/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it's already a lot. The instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-the-photographer-is-interested-in-the-people-in-front-of-his-lens/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The logical conclusion to a compassionate and respectful relationship to sentient animals is that we stop eating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-balcombe/the-logical-conclusion-to-a-compassionate-and-respectful-relationship/) [Jonathan Balcombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-balcombe/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“The kindness sent from one compassionate soul to another during the time of loss of one held so dear allows the sorrow-filled heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/the-kindness-sent-from-one-compassionate-soul-to-another-during-the/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [A strong person is not meant to be insensitive. He might be compassionate and loving. But, he relentlessly fights for the things he thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-person-is-not-meant-to-be-insensitive-he-might-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,064 Compassionate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us cannot happen without compassionate inquiry into the workings of ego... 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