--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rather than letting our negativity get…" description: "\"“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg" --- # Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us… ![“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.” quote by Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg) > ““Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.”” [Pema Chödrön](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. Acknowledge negative feelings directly without avoidance, allowing honest self‑examination. **In simple terms:** Face negativity head‑on. Key Takeaway Accept feelings, then act. Themes mindfulness acceptance self‑awareness honesty growth Mood compassionate reflective Type spiritual psychological When to use this quote - therapy - stress management - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology spiritual practice emotional health Questions to Reflect On - How does honesty with yourself help? - What steps follow acceptance? A Different Perspective Avoidance can be a coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-acknowledge-5865058/) [Feel Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-like/) [Letting Negativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-negativity-5569417/) [Negativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativity/) [Negativity Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativity-better-5821854/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Self assessment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-assessment/) ## Related quotes > [“You’re going to have to work on your negativity though.” “Better negativity than hubris.” “What do you mean?” “If I said I couldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-carlisle/you-re-going-to-have-to-work-on-your-negativity-though-better/) [Tamara Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-carlisle/) > [“It’s true that many overly negative people actually fear letting go of their negativity, and it’s because it has become a part of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/it-s-true-that-many-overly-negative-people-actually-fear-letting-go/) [Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/) > [Negativity is a cancer of the soul that spreads like the flue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo-prince/negativity-is-a-cancer-of-the-soul-that-spreads-like-the-flue/) [Ally Mbululo Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo-prince/) > [Judging people without knowing them is an open-invitation for negativity; and judging those whom you DO know still leaves the door unlocked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-people-without-knowing-them-is-an-open-invitation-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are individuals, who unfortunately are built with an immense amount of negativity. People will always tell you to run away from these types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/there-are-individuals-who-unfortunately-are-built-with-an-immense/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“Negativity is totally unnatural. It is a psychic pollutant, and there is a deep link between the poisoning and destruction of nature and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/negativity-is-totally-unnatural-it-is-a-psychic-pollutant-and-there/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You have to create your self-belief by going to your core to find the probable reasons for the negativity in you, and then demolish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backley/you-have-to-create-your-self-belief-by-going-to-your-core-to-find-the/) [Steve Backley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-backley/) > [Don't respond to negativity with more negativity. Just put your head down and prove your critics wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/don-t-respond-to-negativity-with-more-negativity-just-put-your-head/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [Negativity slowly kills your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew/negativity-slowly-kills-your-mind/) [Andrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew/) > [Thoughts are things. Negativity is what kills you... It's tough to do, but you've got to work at living, you know? Most people work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/thoughts-are-things-negativity-is-what-kills-you-it-s-tough-to-do-but/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [I keep myself away from negativity because it leaves me agitated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishnu-vishal/i-keep-myself-away-from-negativity-because-it-leaves-me-agitated/) [Vishnu Vishal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishnu-vishal/) > [If you set your mind to negativity, you are not ready to listen and believe in reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/if-you-set-your-mind-to-negativity-you-are-not-ready-to-listen-and/) [Mazher (@mazher50](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher-mazher50/) > [In the end, the whole Internet thing kills me, because you can use it as a positive thing or you can read into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/in-the-end-the-whole-internet-thing-kills-me-because-you-can-use-it/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [More exposure leads to more judgment and negativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/more-exposure-leads-to-more-judgment-and-negativity/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [Only love can vanquish hate, the same way that only light can vanquish darkness. You cant fight negativity with more negativity; you must fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-love-can-vanquish-hate-the-same-way-that-only-light-can-vanquish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Pema Chödrön > [“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 Chödrön quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Negativity quotes > [Only love can vanquish hate, the same way that only light can vanquish darkness. You cant fight negativity with more negativity; you must fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-love-can-vanquish-hate-the-same-way-that-only-light-can-vanquish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [More exposure leads to more judgment and negativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/more-exposure-leads-to-more-judgment-and-negativity/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [In the end, the whole Internet thing kills me, because you can use it as a positive thing or you can read into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/in-the-end-the-whole-internet-thing-kills-me-because-you-can-use-it/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“But the more you confront the negativity head-on, the less it can control you. When you hear that voice inside saying you can’t do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-grover-swank/but-the-more-you-confront-the-negativity-head-on-the-less-it-can/) [Denise Grover Swank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-grover-swank/) > [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [Negative comments in terms of body image are the hardest thing the women probably struggle with. But I think the best thing that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/negative-comments-in-terms-of-body-image-are-the-hardest-thing-the/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [Its hard to be positive when people are constantly hurting you or letting you down. But being negative ruins your chase at finding happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/its-hard-to-be-positive-when-people-are-constantly-hurting-you-or/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If you set your mind to negativity, you are not ready to listen and believe in reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/if-you-set-your-mind-to-negativity-you-are-not-ready-to-listen-and/) [Mazher (@mazher50](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher-mazher50/) > [I keep myself away from negativity because it leaves me agitated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishnu-vishal/i-keep-myself-away-from-negativity-because-it-leaves-me-agitated/) [Vishnu Vishal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishnu-vishal/) > [Letting others guide your future through their uninvited comments is permitting them to push you off a cliff and hope for the best...you either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-a-babb/letting-others-guide-your-future-through-their-uninvited-comments-is/) [Frederick A Babb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-a-babb/) > [Through our senses the world appears. Through our reactions we create delusions.Without reactions the world becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/through-our-senses-the-world-appears-through-our-reactions-we-create/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [You know and we have about 60 to 70 percent black men in prison today and it's because of the negativity they have in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/you-know-and-we-have-about-60-to-70-percent-black-men-in-prison-today/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [Thoughts are things. Negativity is what kills you... It's tough to do, but you've got to work at living, you know? Most people work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/thoughts-are-things-negativity-is-what-kills-you-it-s-tough-to-do-but/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) [Browse all 1,318 Negativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pema Chödrön" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-the-better-of-us-we-could/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Negativity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-the-better-of-us-we-could/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/pema-ch-dr-n-327_negativity_rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-t_1562602.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a…” — Pema Chödrön", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pema Chödrön", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Rather than letting our negativity get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-the-better-of-us-we-could/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/rather-than-letting-our-negativity-get-the-better-of-us-we-could/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```