One very powerful and effective way to work with this tendency to push away pain and hold on to pleasure is the practice of tonglen. โฏIn tonglen practice, when we see or feel suffering, we โฏbreathe in with the notion of completely feeling it, accepting it, and owning it.
Pema ChodronEach of us has a "soft spot": the place in our experience where we feel vulnerable and tender. This soft spot is inherent in appreciation and love, and it is equally inherent in pain.
Pema Chodron