--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's difficult to admit to ourselves that…" description: "\"It's difficult to admit to ourselves that we suffer. We feel humiliated, like we should have been able to control our pain. If someone else is sufferin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/sharon-salzberg-562_able_it-s-difficult-to-admit-to-ourselves-tha_942865.png" --- # It's difficult to admit to ourselves that we suffer. We… ![“It's difficult to admit to ourselves that we suffer. We feel humiliated, like we should have been able to control our pain. If someone else is suffering, we like to tuck them away, out of sight. It's a cruel, cruel conditioning. There is no controlling the unfolding of life.” quote by Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/sharon-salzberg-562_able_it-s-difficult-to-admit-to-ourselves-tha_942865.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/sharon-salzberg-562_able_it-s-difficult-to-admit-to-ourselves-tha_942865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/sharon-salzberg-562_able_it-s-difficult-to-admit-to-ourselves-tha_942865.png) > “It's difficult to admit to ourselves that we suffer. We feel humiliated, like we should have been able to control our pain. If someone else is suffering, we like to tuck them away, out of sight. It's a cruel, cruel conditioning. There is no controlling the unfolding of life.” [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We deny our own pain out of shame, yet we try to hide others' suffering, revealing a cultural taboo against vulnerability. **In simple terms:** People hide pain and avoid others' suffering. Key Takeaway Accept and name your pain. Themes vulnerability shame acceptance Mood reflective empathetic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology social conditioning mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does shame affect your willingness to seek help? - What can you do to support others without avoiding their pain? A Different Perspective Pain cannot be fully controlled, only acknowledged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditioning/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“On the other hand, for those of us who have the tendency to believe that everything worthwhile should involve pain and suffering (like yours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/on-the-other-hand-for-those-of-us-who-have-the-tendency-to-believe/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I admit that I suffer from anxiety. 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