--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing ever goes away until it has…" description: "\"Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Even if we run a hundred miles an hour to the other side of the continent, we find ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/pema-ch-dr-n-327_continents_nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taug_2237253.png" --- # Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need… ![“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Even if we run a hundred miles an hour to the other side of the continent, we find the very same problem awaiting us when we arrive.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/pema-ch-dr-n-327_continents_nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taug_2237253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/pema-ch-dr-n-327_continents_nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taug_2237253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/pema-ch-dr-n-327_continents_nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taug_2237253.png) > “Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Even if we run a hundred miles an hour to the other side of the continent, we find the very same problem awaiting us when we arrive.” [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. Problems persist until we learn the lessons they hold; confronting them directly leads to growth. **In simple terms:** Issues stay until we learn from them. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as teachers. Themes mindfulness acceptance growth resilience Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - health setbacks - relationship conflicts - career obstacles Key Concepts impermanence suffering learning cycles Questions to Reflect On - What recurring problem am I avoiding? - How can I extract a lesson from this difficulty? A Different Perspective Avoiding the problem only delays learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Nothing ever goes away has taught us what we need to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/nothing-ever-goes-away-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” Buddhist nun Pema Chodron”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-loechner/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know-4/) [Erin Loechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-loechner/) > [“absence and peace. your absence taught me how to live without you time away taught me to find peace in being alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-sin/absence-and-peace-your-absence-taught-me-how-to-live-without-you-time/) [R.H. Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-sin/) > [I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-decided-to-start-anew-to-strip-away-what-i-had-been-taught/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [“You taught me everything I need to know; self-reliance, self-respect, community. Just don't be surprised if I actually put it to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/you-taught-me-everything-i-need-to-know-self-reliance-self-respect/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Most people don't need to be taught, they need only to be reminded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/most-people-don-t-need-to-be-taught-they-need-only-to-be-reminded/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [When I first moved to L.A. and was a babysitter for a mentally ill billionaire's ex-wife, she taught me a lot. She taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-povitsky/when-i-first-moved-to-l-a-and-was-a-babysitter-for-a-mentally-ill/) [Esther Povitsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-povitsky/) > [“Most people don’t need to be taught, they need only to be reminded.” C.S. Lewis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-lopata/most-people-don-t-need-to-be-taught-they-need-only-to-be-reminded-c-s/) Andy Lopata > [As for our inner level of obstacle, perhaps the only enemy we have is that we don't like the way reality is now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-for-our-inner-level-of-obstacle-perhaps-the-only-enemy-we-have-is/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Know when to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/know-when-to-run/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/you-gotta-know-when-to-hold-em-know-when-to-fold-em-know-when-to-walk/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [I know I have to run 20 more minutes if I eat ice cream. Basically, I eat everything, but I just do more training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-know-i-have-to-run-20-more-minutes-if-i-eat-ice-cream-basically-i/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [And I know I will run for the rest of my life because the actual act and art and feeling of running I love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cain/and-i-know-i-will-run-for-the-rest-of-my-life-because-the-actual-act/) [Mary Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cain/) > [I know that when I have had whatever run-ins I have had throughout my career, I have had them because I have done the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-keselowski/i-know-that-when-i-have-had-whatever-run-ins-i-have-had-throughout-my/) [Brad Keselowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-keselowski/) ## 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 Continents quotes > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Entire new continent can emerge from the ocean in the time it takes for a Web page to show up on your screen. Contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/entire-new-continent-can-emerge-from-the-ocean-in-the-time-it-takes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [From time to time the continent shifts, and everything that isn't fastened down slides into Southern California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/from-time-to-time-the-continent-shifts-and-everything-that-isn-t/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Africa is not a country, but it is a continent like none other. It has that which is elegantly vast or awfully little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/africa-is-not-a-country-but-it-is-a-continent-like-none-other-it-has/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Revisiting the Revolutionary War is a bracing reminder that the fate of a continent, and the shape of the modern world, turned on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/revisiting-the-revolutionary-war-is-a-bracing-reminder-that-the-fate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoeven/from-the-world-wars-of-europe-to-the-jungles-of-the-far-east-from-the/) [John Hoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hoeven/) > [The seasons, like greater tides, ebb and flow across the continents. Spring advances up the United States at the average rate of about fifteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/the-seasons-like-greater-tides-ebb-and-flow-across-the-continents/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [Almost every continent in the world, including our own, has refugees. But how often when we hear the word do we pause to remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/almost-every-continent-in-the-world-including-our-own-has-refugees/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [Today, any action anywhere on earth has an immediate repercussion on all five continents. News of a victory of the Eastern armies in Morocco…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/today-any-action-anywhere-on-earth-has-an-immediate-repercussion-on/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [The workman cut to the left, still laying on his horn, and roared around the drunkenly weaving limousine. He invited the driver of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-workman-cut-to-the-left-still-laying-on-his-horn-and-roared/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [As Africans, we need to share common recognition that all of us stand to lose if we fail to transform our continent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-africans-we-need-to-share-common-recognition-that-all-of-us-stand/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I am honoured to be asked to take on this role, especially as it comes at such an integral time for our relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boateng/i-am-honoured-to-be-asked-to-take-on-this-role-especially-as-it-comes/) Paul Boateng > [Germany will regard the Jewish question as solved only after the very last Jew has left the greater German living space... Europe will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rosenberg/germany-will-regard-the-jewish-question-as-solved-only-after-the-very/) [Alfred Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-rosenberg/) Browse all 745 Continents quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. 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