--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have spent most of my life (like most…" description: "\"“I have spent most of my life (like most people) avoiding transcendence at all costs, mainly because the shit hurts.”\" — Steve Earle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png" --- # I have spent most of my life (like most people) avoiding… ![“I have spent most of my life (like most people) avoiding transcendence at all costs, mainly because the shit hurts.” quote by Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png) > ““I have spent most of my life (like most people) avoiding transcendence at all costs, mainly because the shit hurts.”” [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding deep experiences protects from pain but also limits personal growth and insight. **In simple terms:** Avoiding deep stuff hurts less but stunts growth. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort for transcendence. Themes pain transcendence avoidance Mood reflective empathetic Type advice personal growth When to use this quote - creative work - personal healing - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychological barriers self‑sabotage Questions to Reflect On - What fears hold you back from transcendence? - How can you safely explore discomfort? A Different Perspective Confronting pain can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) [Avoiding Transcendence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding-transcendence-4881610/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Shit Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shit-hurts-2193256/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Transcendence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendence/) [Transcendence Costs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendence-costs-4881611/) ## Related quotes > [When someone loses feelings for you. That shit hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-loses-feelings-for-you-that-shit-hurts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I actually miss my old bestfriend I miss seeing her every weekend and doing crazy things, shit hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-actually-miss-my-old-bestfriend-i-miss-seeing-her-every-weekend-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Is your butt buzzing?" Cole, you have the worst timing! I jerked upright, tring to pull my phone out of my pocket and managing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/is-your-butt-buzzing-cole-you-have-the-worst-timing-i-jerked-upright/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [When the memories hit you... that shit hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-memories-hit-you-that-shit-hurts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [“There are certain truths that occurs to us, which we cannot convey in words, but requires a personal experience to grasp more vividly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-are-certain-truths-that-occurs-to-us-which-we-cannot-convey-in/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Painting is the most magical of mediums. The transcendence is truly amazing to me every time I go to a museum and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/painting-is-the-most-magical-of-mediums-the-transcendence-is-truly/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [“Acceptance IS transcendence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyomay-m-kubose-2/acceptance-is-transcendence/) [Gyomay M Kubose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyomay-m-kubose-2/) > [Specialness as a primary mode of death transcendence takes a number of other maladaptive forms. The drive for power is not uncommonly motivated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/specialness-as-a-primary-mode-of-death-transcendence-takes-a-number/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [“More I try to straighten my life, more I'm overcome with the paradox I am. 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Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [What is wrong with looking muscular? Muscles are beautiful. Strength is beautiful. Muscle tissue is beautiful. It is metabolically, medically, and philosophically beautiful. Muscles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/what-is-wrong-with-looking-muscular-muscles-are-beautiful-strength-is/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [“the entirety of human society and moral progress represents an explicit transcendence of what’s “natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/the-entirety-of-human-society-and-moral-progress-represents-an/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## More by Steve Earle > [When you're really bummed out, the last thing you want to hear is up-tempo and positive. And it lets you know that you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/when-you-re-really-bummed-out-the-last-thing-you-want-to-hear-is-up/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I love theater. I go all the time. It's one of the reasons I moved to New York. But I understand that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-love-theater-i-go-all-the-time-it-s-one-of-the-reasons-i-moved-to/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [You know, I'm not comfortable with people whose politics are static in a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/you-know-i-m-not-comfortable-with-people-whose-politics-are-static-in/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I had everything I need to get me killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-had-everything-i-need-to-get-me-killed/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [Back then, the business depended on bohemians. ... They needed Kristofferson and Roger Miller ..It was the tail end of something...the last Tin Pan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/back-then-the-business-depended-on-bohemians-they-needed/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I think the singer/songwriter genre is going to be like bluegrass and jazz. You can make a living at it, but it's not part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-think-the-singer-songwriter-genre-is-going-to-be-like-bluegrass-and/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I've been a serial husband, and I've done it badly every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-ve-been-a-serial-husband-and-i-ve-done-it-badly-every-time/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [Every day on Earth is another chance to get it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/every-day-on-earth-is-another-chance-to-get-it-right/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The singer-songwriter has always played music that was stylistically rooted in the '30s and the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. But the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/the-singer-songwriter-has-always-played-music-that-was-stylistically/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [Sonnets are guys writing in English, imitating an Italian song form. It was a form definitely sung as often as it was recited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/sonnets-are-guys-writing-in-english-imitating-an-italian-song-form-it/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [When I write something simple I'm always really proud of it. When you write something that simple with that much air in it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/when-i-write-something-simple-i-m-always-really-proud-of-it-when-you/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [My spiritual system is 12-step programs. That's the only one I've ever had. I didn't have one before that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/my-spiritual-system-is-12-step-programs-that-s-the-only-one-i-ve-ever/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [“As he left room 817, Nguyen turned for one final look before he allowed the soldiers to enter and remove the body. Nguyen thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/as-he-left-room-817-nguyen-turned-for-one-final-look-before-he/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The drama teacher that I had in high school, back in Texas, was the only teacher who didn't kick me out of his class.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/the-drama-teacher-that-i-had-in-high-school-back-in-texas-was-the/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) [Explore all 146 Steve Earle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) [Raymond Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-briggs/) > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) [Craig Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-armstrong/) > [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) [Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have spent most of my life (like most people) avoiding transcendence at all costs, mainly because the shit hurts.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Earle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-people-avoiding-transcendence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Avoiding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-people-avoiding-transcendence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/steve-earle-2893_avoiding_i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-p_1396322.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have spent most of my life (like most people) avoiding transcendence at all costs, mainly because the shit…” — Steve Earle", "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": "Steve Earle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I have spent most of my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-people-avoiding-transcendence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-like-most-people-avoiding-transcendence/#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 } } ] } ```