--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trick is to keep exploring and not…" description: "\"The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.\" — Pema Chodron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png" --- # The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when… ![“The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png) > “The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.” [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. Continuously explore despite setbacks, even when reality contradicts expectations. **In simple terms:** Keep exploring even when things differ from expectations. Key Takeaway Persist in curiosity despite disappointment. Themes resilience exploration mindset Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research - creative projects - personal growth - problem solving Key Concepts Buddhism uncertainty tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are you clinging to? - How can you stay open while maintaining direction? A Different Perspective May lead to analysis paralysis if not balanced with decisive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bail/) [Bail Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bail-thought-5333791/) [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Exploring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploring/) [Exploring Bail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploring-bail-5333790/) [Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick/) [Trick Exploring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick-exploring-5333789/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) ## Related quotes > [The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-bail-out-even-when-we-find-out-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [While we are sitting in meditation, we are simply exploring humanity and all of creation in the form of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/while-we-are-sitting-in-meditation-we-are-simply-exploring-humanity-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [While we are sitting in meditation, we are simply exploring humanity and all of creation in the form of ourselves. We can become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/while-we-are-sitting-in-meditation-we-are-simply-exploring-humanity/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I could as easily bail out the Potomac River with a teaspoon as attend to all the details of the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-as-easily-bail-out-the-potomac-river-with-a-teaspoon-as/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“It's funny isn't it? People claim to know what love is -- yet the minute they're given the opportunity to prove it -- they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/it-s-funny-isn-t-it-people-claim-to-know-what-love-is-yet-the-minute/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [QE and other aspects of Fed policy increased inequality pretty significantly. This is reinforced if you take into account all the other non-standard measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-epstein/qe-and-other-aspects-of-fed-policy-increased-inequality-pretty/) [Gerald Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-epstein/) > [When they say all expenses paid, does that include bail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/when-they-say-all-expenses-paid-does-that-include-bail/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [You’re going to share a Moon Pie? Now? You know you can’t get any more of those until you go back to the Sates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-re-going-to-share-a-moon-pie-now-you-know-you-can-t-get-any-more/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The United States can no longer rely upon foreign nations such as China to bail us out of our economic irresponsibility. We must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-united-states-can-no-longer-rely-upon-foreign-nations-such-as/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Shortly before my arrest, my girlfriend at the time, who's now my wife of ten years, told me she was quitting drugs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/shortly-before-my-arrest-my-girlfriend-at-the-time-who-s-now-my-wife/) [Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/) > [Don’t let your thoughts run away with you, don’t start planning to bail out because you’re worried about the future and how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/don-t-let-your-thoughts-run-away-with-you-don-t-start-planning-to/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [The person who reads can bail, but the person who doesn't fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/the-person-who-reads-can-bail-but-the-person-who-doesn-t-fails/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [When assumptions were made that I was going to bail out there was a little part of my brain that thought 'I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/when-assumptions-were-made-that-i-was-going-to-bail-out-there-was-a/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## 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 Bail quotes > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When assumptions were made that I was going to bail out there was a little part of my brain that thought 'I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/when-assumptions-were-made-that-i-was-going-to-bail-out-there-was-a/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [The person who reads can bail, but the person who doesn't fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/the-person-who-reads-can-bail-but-the-person-who-doesn-t-fails/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [Don’t let your thoughts run away with you, don’t start planning to bail out because you’re worried about the future and how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/don-t-let-your-thoughts-run-away-with-you-don-t-start-planning-to/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [Shortly before my arrest, my girlfriend at the time, who's now my wife of ten years, told me she was quitting drugs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/shortly-before-my-arrest-my-girlfriend-at-the-time-who-s-now-my-wife/) [Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The United States can no longer rely upon foreign nations such as China to bail us out of our economic irresponsibility. We must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-united-states-can-no-longer-rely-upon-foreign-nations-such-as/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [You’re going to share a Moon Pie? Now? You know you can’t get any more of those until you go back to the Sates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-re-going-to-share-a-moon-pie-now-you-know-you-can-t-get-any-more/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When they say all expenses paid, does that include bail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/when-they-say-all-expenses-paid-does-that-include-bail/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [QE and other aspects of Fed policy increased inequality pretty significantly. This is reinforced if you take into account all the other non-standard measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-epstein/qe-and-other-aspects-of-fed-policy-increased-inequality-pretty/) [Gerald Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-epstein/) > [“It's funny isn't it? People claim to know what love is -- yet the minute they're given the opportunity to prove it -- they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/it-s-funny-isn-t-it-people-claim-to-know-what-love-is-yet-the-minute/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [I could as easily bail out the Potomac River with a teaspoon as attend to all the details of the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-as-easily-bail-out-the-potomac-river-with-a-teaspoon-as/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There are no wealthy people on Rikers Island because if you are wealthy, you go free because you make bail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/there-are-no-wealthy-people-on-rikers-island-because-if-you-are/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [This is the secret I kept from you, Bails, from myself too: I think I liked that Mom was gone, that she could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/this-is-the-secret-i-kept-from-you-bails-from-myself-too-i-think-i/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Hell no / I ain't going to go / Clean out my cell / And take my tail / To jail / Without bail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/hell-no-i-ain-t-going-to-go-clean-out-my-cell-and-take-my-tail-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) [Browse all 139 Bail quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bail/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pema Chodron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-bail-out-even-when-we-find-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bail" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-bail-out-even-when-we-find-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/pema-ch-dr-n-327_bail_the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-b_672199.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.” — Pema Chodron", "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 Chodron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The trick is to keep exploring...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-bail-out-even-when-we-find-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-trick-is-to-keep-exploring-and-not-bail-out-even-when-we-find-out/#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 } } ] } ```