--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we begin to get in touch with whatever…" description: "\"If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and we'll find that more areas of our li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/pema-ch-dr-n-327_areas_if-we-begin-to-get-in-touch-with-whateve_2682936.png" --- # If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with… ![“If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and we'll find that more areas of our lives are workable. AS we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others-what and whom we can work with, and how-becomes…” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/pema-ch-dr-n-327_areas_if-we-begin-to-get-in-touch-with-whateve_2682936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/pema-ch-dr-n-327_areas_if-we-begin-to-get-in-touch-with-whateve_2682936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/pema-ch-dr-n-327_areas_if-we-begin-to-get-in-touch-with-whateve_2682936.png) > “If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and we'll find that more areas of our lives are workable. AS we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others-what and whom we can work with, and how-becomes wider.” [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. Kindness toward our own feelings dissolves defenses, expanding our capacity for compassion toward self and others. **In simple terms:** Self‑kindness opens us to wider compassion. Key Takeaway Practice gentle self‑compassion. Themes compassion self‑awareness growth Mood calm hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts mindfulness emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you gently notice a difficult feeling? - What does compassion for self enable you to do for others? A Different Perspective Compassion can be hard when confronting painful emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas/) [Circle Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle-compassion-456111/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Circle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-circle-2596549/) [Compassion for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-for-others/) [Compassion Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-work-2596550/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Learn Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-compassion-240740/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Protective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protective/) [Shells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shells/) ## Related quotes > [As we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others - what and whom we can work with, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-we-learn-to-have-compassion-for-ourselves-the-circle-of-compassion/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“We have to make mistakes, it's how we learn compassion for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/we-have-to-make-mistakes-it-s-how-we-learn-compassion-for-others/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“But gradually we learn something very precious under the tutelage of these wounds. We learn a compassion for others that replaces judging, self-loathing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-laird/but-gradually-we-learn-something-very-precious-under-the-tutelage-of/) [Martin Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-laird/) > [We have to make mistakes, its how we learn compassion for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/we-have-to-make-mistakes-its-how-we-learn-compassion-for-others/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“Once we are able to combine a feeling of empathy for others with a profound understanding of the suffering they experience, we become able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/once-we-are-able-to-combine-a-feeling-of-empathy-for-others-with-a/) [His Holiness the Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/) > [I think what life experience has brought to my poems is compassion. When you work hard to make a living, raise a child up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorianne-laux/i-think-what-life-experience-has-brought-to-my-poems-is-compassion/) [Dorianne Laux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorianne-laux/) > [Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/compassion-for-others-begins-with-kindness-to-ourselves/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [In order to have compassion for others, we have to have compassion for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/in-order-to-have-compassion-for-others-we-have-to-have-compassion-for/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The only way to learn compassion is through your heart; you have to back up and pass through your own pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/the-only-way-to-learn-compassion-is-through-your-heart-you-have-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Sometimes we find ourselves in desperate need and we look to those of privilege and power. It's then we learn compassion sits inert upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-religion/sometimes-we-find-ourselves-in-desperate-need-and-we-look-to-those-of/) [Bad Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-religion/) > [YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE" "And what's that?" "A SHARP EDGE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to-your-trade-and-what-s-that-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Love can come from enduring ones life journey, where from such a venture, you will learn compassion and humility, leading you to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-agutter/love-can-come-from-enduring-ones-life-journey-where-from-such-a/) [Alastair Agutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-agutter/) > [Dealing with difficult people, you learn compassion and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dealing-with-difficult-people-you-learn-compassion-and-patience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had to learn compassion. Had to learn what it felt like to hate, and to forgive and to love and be loved. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-had-to-learn-compassion-had-to-learn-what-it-felt-like-to-hate-and/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [Were it not for the relationship I have with Christ, the world surely would have run me down by now…Certainly I'll never find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-lott/were-it-not-for-the-relationship-i-have-with-christ-the-world-surely/) [Bret Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-lott/) ## 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. 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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. 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