---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suffering happens in the gap we hold…"
description: "\"“Suffering happens in the gap we hold between the expectations we have and reality. Flexing and finding the gifts in the gap resolves the pain.”\" — Pop..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg"
---

#  Suffering happens in the gap we hold between the…

![“Suffering happens in the gap we hold between the expectations we have and reality. Flexing and finding the gifts in the gap resolves the pain.” quote by Poppy Jamie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg)

> ““Suffering happens in the gap we hold between the expectations we have and reality. Flexing and finding the gifts in the gap resolves the pain.””

[Poppy Jamie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-jamie/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Pain arises from the gap between expectations and reality; embracing that gap transforms suffering into growth

**In simple terms:** Accept gaps, find gifts within

Key Takeaway

Use gaps as learning opportunities

Themes

personal growth mindfulness resilience

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- coaching
- self‑reflection

Key Concepts

expectation‑reality gap gift‑finding pain transformation

Questions to Reflect On

- What expectations create your biggest gaps?
- How can you reframe disappointment as opportunity?

A Different Perspective

Some gaps may be unbridgeable, causing lingering distress

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Gap Resolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gap-resolves-1847745/) [Happens Gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-gap-1847744/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Personal development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-development/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Reality Flexing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-flexing-1847746/) [Self development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-development/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-happens-1847743/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [“Pain is inevitable; lives come with pain. Suffering is not inevitable. If suffering is what happens when we struggle with our experience because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/pain-is-inevitable-lives-come-with-pain-suffering-is-not-inevitable/)

[Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/)

> [When suffering happens, it forces us to confront life in a different way than we normally do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/when-suffering-happens-it-forces-us-to-confront-life-in-a-different/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [“Suffering happens when we expect life to be something more and different than what it is in the present moment. When we let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-eng/suffering-happens-when-we-expect-life-to-be-something-more-and/)

[Kim Eng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-eng/)

> [The end of suffering happens in this very moment, whether you're watching a terrorist attack or doing the dishes. And compassion begins at home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-end-of-suffering-happens-in-this-very-moment-whether-you-re/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Nothing, including human suffering, happens by chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/nothing-including-human-suffering-happens-by-chance/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [“Don’t adapt to the world like the rest of the flock, but rather let the world adapt to you and your unique ways; given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas-hamshari/don-t-adapt-to-the-world-like-the-rest-of-the-flock-but-rather-let/)

[Anas Hamshari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas-hamshari/)

> [The top players in every field think differently when all the marbles are on the line. Great performers focus on what they are doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eliot/the-top-players-in-every-field-think-differently-when-all-the-marbles/)

[John Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eliot/)

> [“Many times in life, we are held back from achieving our goals because we do not commit ourselves wholeheartedly. With an escape route in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/many-times-in-life-we-are-held-back-from-achieving-our-goals-because/)

[idowu koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/)

> [“A Gentleperson understands that it’s better not to take sides. If a Gentleperson decides on taking sides, then they shall take both sides, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas-hamshari/a-gentleperson-understands-that-it-s-better-not-to-take-sides-if-a/)

[Anas Hamshari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas-hamshari/)

> [When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/when-you-are-immune-to-the-opinions-and-actions-of-others-you-won-t/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [“Human history is the ancient story of the umbilical conflict between a lone individual versus a cabalistic society. A love-hate relationship defines our personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/human-history-is-the-ancient-story-of-the-umbilical-conflict-between/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“It's about personal development. It's about creating your own character and pushing it to the limit. It's about pushing yourself so far out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/it-s-about-personal-development-it-s-about-creating-your-own/)

[Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/)

> [“As love beings, we have the ability to bring about peace with just the change of our mindset.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-cecilia/as-love-beings-we-have-the-ability-to-bring-about-peace-with-just-the/)

[Angela Cecilia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-cecilia/)

> [“Your struggle is your training ground for your assignment on earth. Greatness does not come in a five star package.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-verd/your-struggle-is-your-training-ground-for-your-assignment-on-earth/)

[Nicky Verd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-verd/)

> [Focus enough energy inward. Before befriending others, you have to be your own friend. Before making others happy, you have to make yourself happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/focus-enough-energy-inward-before-befriending-others-you-have-to-be/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

[Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/)

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Suffering happens in the gap we hold between the expectations we have and reality. Flexing and finding the gifts in the gap resolves the pain.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Poppy Jamie"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-jamie/suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-between-the-expectations-we-have/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-jamie/suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-between-the-expectations-we-have/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70e/poppy-jamie-270125_change_suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-bet_968898.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Suffering happens in the gap we hold between the expectations we have and reality. Flexing and finding the…” — Poppy Jamie",
                "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": "Poppy Jamie",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-jamie/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Suffering happens in the gap we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-jamie/suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-between-the-expectations-we-have/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-jamie/suffering-happens-in-the-gap-we-hold-between-the-expectations-we-have/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
