--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When things fall apart and we can’t get…" description: "\"“When things fall apart and we can’t get the pieces back together, when we lose something dear to us, when they whole thing is just not working and we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall-apart_when-things-fall-apart-and-we-can-t-get_1756823.jpg" --- # When things fall apart and we can’t get the pieces back… ![“When things fall apart and we can’t get the pieces back together, when we lose something dear to us, when they whole thing is just not working and we don’t know what to do, this is the time when the natural warmth of tenderness, the warmth of empathy and kindness, are just waiting to be uncovered…” quote by Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall-apart_when-things-fall-apart-and-we-can-t-get_1756823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall-apart_when-things-fall-apart-and-we-can-t-get_1756823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall-apart_when-things-fall-apart-and-we-can-t-get_1756823.jpg) > ““When things fall apart and we can’t get the pieces back together, when we lose something dear to us, when they whole thing is just not working and we don’t know what to do, this is the time when the natural warmth of tenderness, the warmth of empathy and kindness, are just waiting to be uncovered, just waiting to be embraced. This is our chance to come out of our self-protecting bubble and to realize that we are never alone. This is our chance to finally understand that wherever we go, everyone we meet is essentially just like us. Our own suffering, if we turn toward it, can open us to a loving relationship with the world.”” [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. When loss and confusion arise, empathy and kindness become available, reminding us we are not alone and that others share our suffering. **In simple terms:** Loss reveals hidden compassion and connection. Key Takeaway Embrace empathy to feel less alone. Themes compassion connection vulnerability Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - support groups - personal crisis - community building Key Concepts mindfulness interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn personal suffering into kindness for others? - What does “never alone” mean in your life? A Different Perspective If we ignore our own pain, we may miss the chance for empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy And Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy-and-kindness-225760/) [Empathy Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy-kindness-1656121/) [Fall apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-apart/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Tenderness Warmth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness-warmth-1656122/) [Things Fall Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-fall-apart/) [Waiting Embraced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-embraced-1656120/) [Warmth Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warmth-empathy-1656119/) [Warmth Tenderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warmth-tenderness-1656123/) ## Related quotes > [People of power have to show empathy and kindness to the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/people-of-power-have-to-show-empathy-and-kindness-to-the-young/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) > [“ Displaying Warmth and Empathy Warmth means showing that you care about another person. Empathy is the capacity to share another person’s experience, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/displaying-warmth-and-empathy-warmth-means-showing-that-you-care/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [You don't teach morals and ethics and empathy and kindness in the schools. You teach that at home, and children learn by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/you-don-t-teach-morals-and-ethics-and-empathy-and-kindness-in-the/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) ## 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. 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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. 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. 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People suffer because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-realized-that-life-is-indeed-full-of-contradictions-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He presses two fingers against each eye and attempts to account for this crippling melancholy, but is having trouble with rational thought. It feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/he-presses-two-fingers-against-each-eye-and-attempts-to-account-for/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [But I am only human and I bleed when I fall down I am only human and I crash and I break down u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/human/but-i-am-only-human-and-i-bleed-when-i-fall-down-i-am-only-human-and/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/human/) > [There's always a race against time. I don't think for one moment that life gets better. How can it? One's body starts to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-grahame/there-s-always-a-race-against-time-i-don-t-think-for-one-moment-that/) [Gloria Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-grahame/) > [The truth will form and fall apart again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-slean/the-truth-will-form-and-fall-apart-again/) [Sarah Slean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-slean/) > [Creative ideas aren't like Jenga blocks, where they fall apart and you've got to start from scratch, though it can feel that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creative-ideas-aren-t-like-jenga-blocks-where-they-fall-apart-and-you/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [“Sometimes when we go through transitions, we aren’t aware of the impact they have on us. 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