Accepted Quote by Tarthang Tulku
“When a child encounters something he or she does not want, that child has all kinds of maneuvers to avoid it, such as crying, hiding, or fighting. . . Unless we are taught to face our problems directly and work through them, the pattern of avoidance will be repeated; it can be a natural, accepted way to act.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche, 1992
Avoidance behavior in children shows how unaddressed problems become habitual, leading to repeated patterns unless confronted directly.
In simple terms: Kids avoid unwanted things; without facing problems, avoidance repeats.
Teach direct problem‑facing to break avoidance cycles.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- therapy
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we encourage safe confrontation of discomfort?
- What supports help replace avoidance with constructive action?
Avoidance can sometimes protect from immediate distress, making change harder.