--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us do not take these situations…" description: "\"Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape -- all addictio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/pema-ch-dr-n-327_addiction_most-of-us-do-not-take-these-situations_155443.png" --- # Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We… ![“Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape -- all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become…” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/pema-ch-dr-n-327_addiction_most-of-us-do-not-take-these-situations_155443.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/pema-ch-dr-n-327_addiction_most-of-us-do-not-take-these-situations_155443.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/pema-ch-dr-n-327_addiction_most-of-us-do-not-take-these-situations_155443.png) > “Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape -- all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain.” [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. People often react to discomfort by seeking distraction or addiction rather than confronting the underlying pain. **In simple terms:** We avoid pain with habits, which can become addictions. Key Takeaway Face discomfort directly to break addictive cycles. Themes mindfulness addiction pain avoidance self-awareness Mood reflective calm serious Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stressful workday - relationship conflict - grief - health crisis Key Concepts Buddhist psychology attachment theory behavioral coping Questions to Reflect On - What discomfort are you masking? - How could confronting it change your life? A Different Perspective Avoiding pain can delay healing and reinforce unhealthy patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addicted Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addicted-ease-1718889/) [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Addictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addictions/) [Addictions Stem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addictions-stem-1718888/) [All kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-kinds/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Escape Addictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape-addictions-1718887/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pads/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situations Teachings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situations-teachings-1718890/) [Stem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stem/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [Addictions within football, we're talking gambling. 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Addictions lull us into forgetting to take care of ourselves. Addictions distract us from problem solving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-duncan-thrasher/addictions-are-life-preservers-with-leaks-addictions-lull-us-into/) [Pauline Duncan-Thrasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-duncan-thrasher/) ## 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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It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/) [Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/) > [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. 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