--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The remedy is not to suppress negative…" description: "\"“The remedy is not to suppress negative experiences; when they happen, they happen. Rather, it is to foster positive experiences—and in particular, to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/rick-hanson-10793_quote_the-remedy-is-not-to-suppress-negative-e_1172724.jpg" --- # The remedy is not to suppress negative experiences; when… ![“The remedy is not to suppress negative experiences; when they happen, they happen. Rather, it is to foster positive experiences—and in particular, to take them in so they become a permanent part of you.” quote by Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/rick-hanson-10793_quote_the-remedy-is-not-to-suppress-negative-e_1172724.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/rick-hanson-10793_quote_the-remedy-is-not-to-suppress-negative-e_1172724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/rick-hanson-10793_quote_the-remedy-is-not-to-suppress-negative-e_1172724.jpg) > ““The remedy is not to suppress negative experiences; when they happen, they happen. Rather, it is to foster positive experiences—and in particular, to take them in so they become a permanent part of you.”” [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Do not suppress negativity; instead, amplify positive experiences to integrate them permanently. **In simple terms:** Accept negatives, nurture positives. Key Takeaway Practice gratitude and savor positive moments. Themes psychology well‑being mindfulness emotional health Mood calm hopeful Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - daily journaling - stressful events Key Concepts neuroplasticity positive reinforcement integration Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance acceptance of pain with fostering joy? - What rituals help you internalize positive experiences? A Different Perspective Focusing only on positives may ignore necessary processing of pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Negative experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-experiences/) [Positive experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-experiences/) ## Related quotes > [Every single thought I have and every sentence I speak is an affirmation. It is either positive or negative. Positive affirmations create positive experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/every-single-thought-i-have-and-every-sentence-i-speak-is-an/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [I've had negative experiences with cops. I've had positive experiences with cops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/i-ve-had-negative-experiences-with-cops-i-ve-had-positive-experiences/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [ “People who tend to \[suppress their negative emotions\] regularly,” concludes Grob, “might start to see the world in a more negative light.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/people-who-tend-to-suppress-their-negative-emotions-regularly/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“The most life-changing experiences happen when I stop trying to control and simply let things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/the-most-life-changing-experiences-happen-when-i-stop-trying-to/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [“A genuine poet is one who writes about experiences before they happen to him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-4/a-genuine-poet-is-one-who-writes-about-experiences-before-they-happen/) [T.S Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-4/) > [In relations with people, as in art, if you always stick to style, manners, and what will work, and you're never caught off guard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-frankenthaler/in-relations-with-people-as-in-art-if-you-always-stick-to-style/) [Helen Frankenthaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-frankenthaler/) > [“When some things don’t work out, other things do. Some of life’s most memorable and fun experiences happen precisely because things don’t go as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/when-some-things-don-t-work-out-other-things-do-some-of-life-s-most/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“Negative experiences create vicious cycles by making you pessimistic, overreactive, and inclined to go negative yourself. Avoiding”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/negative-experiences-create-vicious-cycles-by-making-you-pessimistic/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Your brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/your-brain-is-like-velcro-for-negative-experiences-but-teflon-for/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [I think one big improvement would be if we somehow made it cheaper and easier for developing countries to learn from the sad experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/i-think-one-big-improvement-would-be-if-we-somehow-made-it-cheaper/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [You can make almost anything a learning or positive experience. I think I offer a good example of how to make the most out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/you-can-make-almost-anything-a-learning-or-positive-experience-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“focus on the stories behind the logo—create current positive experiences and long-lasting “wow”s to delight and move your market into comfort and loyalty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stratten/focus-on-the-stories-behind-the-logo-create-current-positive/) Scott Stratten > [I think one of the things about being around for a while and getting to know yourself is that when you do have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-marr/i-think-one-of-the-things-about-being-around-for-a-while-and-getting/) [Johnny Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-marr/) > [Monotony and repetition are characteristic of many parts of life, but these do not become sources of conscious discomfort until novelty and entertainment are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-catherine-bateson/monotony-and-repetition-are-characteristic-of-many-parts-of-life-but/) [Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-catherine-bateson/) > [I do believe that children are all blessings from god. And I feel it's all positive, it's positive experience. You know, I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/i-do-believe-that-children-are-all-blessings-from-god-and-i-feel-it-s/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) ## More by Rick Hanson > [ “\[I\]f you can be with the pleasant without chasing after it, with the unpleasant without resisting it, and with the neutral without ignoring it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/i-f-you-can-be-with-the-pleasant-without-chasing-after-it-with-the/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“inescapable physical or mental discomfort is the “first dart” of existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/inescapable-physical-or-mental-discomfort-is-the-first-dart-of/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“The autobiographical self (D’Amasio 2000) incorporates the reflective self and some of the emotional self, and it provides the sense of “I” having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/the-autobiographical-self-d-amasio-2000-incorporates-the-reflective/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“I once heard a Native American teaching story in which an elder, a grandmother, was asked what she had done to become so happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/i-once-heard-a-native-american-teaching-story-in-which-an-elder-a/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Therefore, you can use your mind to change your brain to benefit your mind—and everyone else”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/therefore-you-can-use-your-mind-to-change-your-brain-to-benefit-your/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Whatever positive facts you find, bring a mindful awareness to them—open up to them and let them affect you. It’s like sitting down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/whatever-positive-facts-you-find-bring-a-mindful-awareness-to-them/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Your brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/your-brain-is-like-velcro-for-negative-experiences-but-teflon-for/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“that suffering is the result of craving expressed through the Three Poisons: greed, hatred, and delusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/that-suffering-is-the-result-of-craving-expressed-through-the-three/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Strength is often quiet, receptive determination rather than chest-thumping pushiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/strength-is-often-quiet-receptive-determination-rather-than-chest/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“A person is a human body-mind as a whole, an autonomous and dynamic system that arises in dependence upon human culture and the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/a-person-is-a-human-body-mind-as-a-whole-an-autonomous-and-dynamic/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“First darts are unpleasant to be sure. But then we add our reactions to them. These reactions are “second darts”—the ones we throw ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/first-darts-are-unpleasant-to-be-sure-but-then-we-add-our-reactions/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [ “Letting go of ill will does not mean passivity, silence, or allowing yourself or others to be harmed. \[...\] There is plenty of room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/letting-go-of-ill-will-does-not-mean-passivity-silence-or-allowing/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Stress reduces serotonin, probably the most important neurotransmitter for maintaining a good mood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/stress-reduces-serotonin-probably-the-most-important-neurotransmitter/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Experiences are thus incapable of being completely satisfying. They are an unreliable basis for true happiness. To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/experiences-are-thus-incapable-of-being-completely-satisfying-they/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Nurturing your own development isn’t selfish. It’s actually a great gift to other people. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/nurturing-your-own-development-isn-t-selfish-it-s-actually-a-great/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) [Explore all 63 Rick Hanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) ## More Negative experiences quotes > [When we are upset, it’s easy to blame others. However, the true cause of our feelings is within us. For example, imagine yourself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josei-toda/when-we-are-upset-it-s-easy-to-blame-others-however-the-true-cause-of/) [Josei Toda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josei-toda/) > [When the human organism is discharging its negative experience efficiently, the mind is empty of past or future concerns; there is no worry, anticipation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-the-human-organism-is-discharging-its-negative-experience/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [It's a passion when you're doing it for other people and you're doing it for the people around you making the film and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/it-s-a-passion-when-you-re-doing-it-for-other-people-and-you-re-doing/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [One has to handle these negative experiences alone.You can't get help from your friends or family.You're finally alone with it, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/one-has-to-handle-these-negative-experiences-alone-you-can-t-get-help/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [“Your brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/your-brain-is-like-velcro-for-negative-experiences-but-teflon-for/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [Resilience is a precious skill. People who have it tend to also have three underlying advantages: a believe that they can influence life events;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-ripley/resilience-is-a-precious-skill-people-who-have-it-tend-to-also-have/) [Amanda Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-ripley/) > [On the McGuire course, there's a technique called 'cancellation' where negative experiences are replaced with positive ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/on-the-mcguire-course-there-s-a-technique-called-cancellation-where/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [Bitterness is a result of clinging to negative experiences. It serves you no good, and closes the door to your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-brown/bitterness-is-a-result-of-clinging-to-negative-experiences-it-serves/) [Leon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-brown/) > [Most people who are on a spiritual path realize their thoughts are crucial to their experiences. If you have negative thoughts, you draw and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/most-people-who-are-on-a-spiritual-path-realize-their-thoughts-are/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [“Being wrong opens us up to the possibility of change. Being wrong brings the opportunity for growth. It means not cutting your arm open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/being-wrong-opens-us-up-to-the-possibility-of-change-being-wrong/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [You Can Decide Right Now That Negative Experiences From your Past Will Not Predict Your Future. Figure Out What The Next Positive Step Is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/you-can-decide-right-now-that-negative-experiences-from-your-past/) Pacifiersucker > [Whoever uses psychedelics should treat them with greatest respect. When Aldous and I used them, we prepared the ambience and ourselves the day before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-huxley/whoever-uses-psychedelics-should-treat-them-with-greatest-respect/) [Laura Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-huxley/) > [“The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.” So”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-scott/the-brain-is-like-velcro-for-negative-experiences-but-teflon-for/) [S.J. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-scott/) > [You learn from both positive and negative experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-learn-from-both-positive-and-negative-experiences/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is not our negative experiences that bring about negative thoughts and feelings. Rather, it is our negative feelings and thoughts that create our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-stephens/it-is-not-our-negative-experiences-that-bring-about-negative-thoughts/) Jack Stephens [Browse all 48 Negative experiences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-experiences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The remedy is not to suppress negative experiences; when they happen, they happen. 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