Brené Brown famous quotes

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness.
-- Brené Brown

#Courage #Parenting #Empathy

Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are.
-- Brené Brown

#Letting Go #Thinking #Practice

What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.
-- Brené Brown

#Beautiful #Vulnerable

Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivation #Fear #Inspiration

Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous.... Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection and the path to the feeling of worthiness. If it doesn't feel vulnerable, the sharing is probably not constructive.
-- Brené Brown

#Feelings #Weakness #Connections

Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect. When we don't have that, we shape-shift and turn into chameleons; we hustle for the worthiness we already possess.
-- Brené Brown

#Believe #Positive Thinking #Acceptance

Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspiring #Letting Go #Business

I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivational #Inspirational Life #Stories

Until we can receive with an open heart, we're never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.
-- Brené Brown

#Heart #Giving #Receiving

I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspirational #Motivational #Friendship

[I] never talk about gratitude and joy separately, for this reason. In 12 years, I've never interviewed a single person who would describe their lives as joyful, who would describe themselves as joyous, who was not actively practicing gratitude.
-- Brené Brown

#Gratitude #Years #Joy

We're a nation hungry for more joy: Because we're starving from a lack of gratitude.
-- Brené Brown

#Gratitude #Joy #Hungry

Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.
-- Brené Brown

#Confidence #Someone You Love #Like You

You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspirational #Struggle #Imperfect

Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we're all in this together.
-- Brené Brown

#Imperfection #Together #Reminders

Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivation #Light #Brave

Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.
-- Brené Brown

#Courage #Risk #Boundaries

Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspiring #Running #Stories

We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.
-- Brené Brown

#Positive #Abnormal Psychology #Emotion

If we don’t allow ourselves to experience joy and love, we will definitely miss out on filling our reservoir with what we need when. . . . hard things happen.
-- Brené Brown

#Joy #Missing #Challenges

Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it’s understanding the necessity of both; it’s engaging. It’s being all in.
-- Brené Brown

#Knowing #Understanding #Victory

The real questions for parents should be: "Are you engaged? Are you paying attention?" If so, plan to make lots of mistakes and bad decisions. Imperfect parenting moments turn into gifts as our children watch us try to figure out what went wrong and how we can do better next time. The mandate is not to be perfect and raise happy children. Perfection doesn't exist, and I've found what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.
-- Brené Brown

#Children #Real #Mistake

One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on "going it alone." Somehow we've come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we're very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It's as if we've divided the world into "those who offer help" and "those who need help." The truth is that we are both.
-- Brené Brown

#Hands #Connections #Needs

Connection is why we're here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. The power that connection holds in our lives was confirmed when the main concern about connection emerged as the fear of disconnection; the fear that something we have done or failed to do, something about who we are or where we come from, has made us unlovable and unworthy of connection.
-- Brené Brown

#Giving #Connections #Where We Come

If you want to make a difference, the next time you see someone being cruel to another human being, take it personally. Take it personally because it is personal!” (p 272)
-- Brené Brown

#Differences #Making A Difference #Want

Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.
-- Brené Brown

#Showing Up #Overcoming Fear #Vulnerability

Feeling vulnerable, imperfect, and afraid is human. It's when we lose our capacity to hold space for these struggles that we become dangerous.
-- Brené Brown

#Struggle #Space #Feelings

Until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart.
-- Brené Brown

#Business #Heart #Giving

It’s no longer a question of can I do it. It’s a question of: Do I want to do it?
-- Brené Brown

#Want

What we know matters but who we are matters more.
-- Brené Brown

#Who We Are #Matter

The willingness to show up changes us, It makes us a little braver each time.
-- Brené Brown

#Littles #Shows #Willingness

Maybe stories are just data with a soul.
-- Brené Brown

#Data #Soul #Stories

We judge people in areas where we’re vulnerable to shame, especially picking folks who are doing worse than we’re doing. If I feel good about my parenting, I have no interest in judging other people’s choices. If I feel good about my body, I don’t go around making fun of other people’s weight or appearance. We’re hard on each other because we’re using each other as a launching pad out of our own perceived deficiency.
-- Brené Brown

#Fun #Judging #People

If you trade your authenticity for safety, you may experience the following: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, rage, blame, resentment, and inexplicable grief.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspirational #Real #Grief

Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.(page 49)
-- Brené Brown

#Real #Self #Choices

Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor - the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences -- good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as "ordinary courage.
-- Brené Brown

#Latin #Commitment #Heart

Our capacity for wholeheartednes s can never be greater than our willingness to be broken-hearted.
-- Brené Brown

#Broken #Capacity #Hearted

Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivational #Compassion #Perspective

The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button.
-- Brené Brown

#Buttons #Wake Up #Snooze Button

Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism.
-- Brené Brown

#Criticism #Stories

We are hardwired to connect with others, it's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.
-- Brené Brown

#Giving #Empathy #Suffering

When we numb [hard feelings], we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness.
-- Brené Brown

#Gratitude #Motivation #Inspiration

Ads sell a great deal more than products. They sell values, images, and concepts of success and worth.
-- Brené Brown

#Deals #Ads #Values

Nothing has transformed my life more than realizing that it's a waste of time to evaluate my worthiness by weighing the reaction of the people in the stands.
-- Brené Brown

#People #Waste #Wasting Time

You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.
-- Brené Brown

#Confidence #Hustle #Stories

If we own the story then we can write the ending.
-- Brené Brown

#Writing #Positivity #Stories

Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.
-- Brené Brown

#Strong #Imperfect #Belonging

When we lose our tolerance for vulnerability, joy becomes foreboding.
-- Brené Brown

#Joy #Tolerance #Vulnerability

We are the most in-debt, obese, addicted and medicated adult cohort in U.S. history.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivation #Inspiration #Adults

What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.
-- Brené Brown

#Gratitude #Thankfulness #Privilege

Who we are and how we engage with the world are much stronger predictors of how our children will do than what we know about parenting.
-- Brené Brown

#Children #Stronger #World

When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated. This is why we sometimes attack who they are, which is far more hurtful than addressing a behavior or a choice.
-- Brené Brown

#People #Choices #Hurtful

When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver!
-- Brené Brown

#Riding #Driving #Annoying

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them- we can only love others as much as we love ourselves. Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed, and rare.
-- Brené Brown

#Betrayal #Love Is #Two

Believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic.
-- Brené Brown

#Confidence #Believe #Giving

Joy, collected over time, fuels resilience - ensuring we'll have reservoirs of emotional strength when hard things do happen.
-- Brené Brown

#Emotional #Joy #Resilience

Talk about your failures without apologizing.
-- Brené Brown

#Apologizing

You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you can't have both.
-- Brené Brown

#Comfort

Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self acceptance.
-- Brené Brown

#Acceptance #Self #Levels

Vulnerability is not about winning, and it's not about losing. It's about having the courage to show up and be seen.
-- Brené Brown

#Winning #Losing #Shows

Love is a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them - we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.
-- Brené Brown

#Love Is #Two #People

Creativity, which is the expression of our originality, helps us stay mindful that what we bring to the world is completely original and cannot be compared.
-- Brené Brown

#Creativity #Expression #World

Do you light up when your kids are coming in the room or do you become the instant critic?
-- Brené Brown

#Kids #Positivity #Light

There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.
-- Brené Brown

#Creativity #Innovation #Periods

Nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous and hurtful as believing that I'm standing on the outside of my life looking in and wondering what it would be like if I had the courage to show up and let myself be seen.
-- Brené Brown

#Believe #Hurtful #Would Be

Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy.
-- Brené Brown

#Giving Up #Joy #Dangerous

Hope is a function of struggle.
-- Brené Brown

#Struggle #Function

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.
-- Brené Brown

#Sound #Feels #Vulnerability

Numb the dark and you numb the light.
-- Brené Brown

#Fear #Dark #Light

Nostalgia is also a dangerous form of comparison. Think about how often we compare our lives to a memory that nostalgia has so completely edited that it never really existed.
-- Brené Brown

#Memories #Thinking #Nostalgia

Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.
-- Brené Brown

#Shame

If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive.
-- Brené Brown

#Empathy #Understanding #Stories

Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it's often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.
-- Brené Brown

#Differences #Addiction #Anxiety

Worrying about scarcity is our culture's version of post-traumatic stress. It happens when we've been through too much, and rather than coming together to heal (which requires vulnerability) we're angry and scared and at each other's throats.
-- Brené Brown

#Fear #Stress #Worry

The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It's our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.
-- Brené Brown

#Dark #Light #Joy

When I look at narcissism through the vulnerability lens, I see the shame-based fear of being ordinary. I see the fear of never feeling extraordinary enough to be noticed, to be lovable, to belong, or to cultivate a sense of purpose.
-- Brené Brown

#Fear #Feelings #Ordinary

Even to me the issue of "stay small, sweet, quiet, and modest" sounds like an outdated problem, but the truth is that women still run into those demands whenever we find and use our voices.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspirational #Running #Sweet

Hope is not an emotion; it's a way of thinking or a cognitive process.
-- Brené Brown

#Thinking #Way #Emotion

Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.
-- Brené Brown

#Meaningful #Spiritual #Creativity

Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.
-- Brené Brown

#Self #Perfect #Feelings

Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.
-- Brené Brown

#Believe #Shame #Capable

We're a nation of exhausted and over-stressed adults raising over-scheduled children.
-- Brené Brown

#Children #Stressed #Adults

Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.
-- Brené Brown

#Risk #Connections #Want

To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees – these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace.
-- Brené Brown

#Gratitude #Pain #Believe

There’s nothing more daring than showing up, putting ourselves out there and letting ourselves be seen.
-- Brené Brown

#Showing Up #Daring

Vulnerability pushed, I pushed back. I lost the fight, but probably won my life back.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivation #Inspiration #Fighting

Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it's the thing that's really preventing us from taking flight.
-- Brené Brown

#Thinking #Twenties #Shields

Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception - we want to be perceived as perfect. Again, this is unattainable - there is no way to control perception, regardless of how much time and energy we spend trying.
-- Brené Brown

#Motivational #Self #Goal

Our stories are not meant for everyone. Hearing them is a privilege, and we should always ask ourselves this before we share: "Who has earned the right to hear my story?" If we have one or two people in our lives who can sit with us and hold space for our shame stories, and love us for our strengths and struggles, we are incredibly lucky. If we have a friend, or small group of friends, or family who embraces our imperfections, vulnerabilities, and power, and fills us with a sense of belonging, we are incredibly lucky.
-- Brené Brown

#Struggle #Two #Space

Most people believe vulnerability is weakness. But really vulnerability is Courage. We must ask ourselves...are we willing to show up and be seen.
-- Brené Brown

#Believe #People #Weakness

Don't try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer.
-- Brené Brown

#Winning #Trying #Jackasses

You can't get to courage without walking through vulnerability.
-- Brené Brown

#Walking #Vulnerability

Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.
-- Brené Brown

#Acceptance #Self #World

I've found what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.
-- Brené Brown

#Children #Adults #Courageous

Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspirational #Running #Courage

When we can let go of what other people think and own our story, we gain access to our worthiness—the feeling that we are enough just as we are and that we are worthy of love and belonging. When we spend a lifetime trying to distance ourselves from the parts of our lives that don’t fit with who we think we’re supposed to be, we stand outside of our story and hustle for our worthiness by constantly performing, perfecting, pleasing, and proving. Our sense of worthiness—that critically important piece that gives us access to love and belonging—lives inside of our story.
-- Brené Brown

#Letting Go #Distance #Thinking

If you own this story you get to write the ending.
-- Brené Brown

#Writing #Stories

Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.
-- Brené Brown

#Courage #Motivation #Inspiration

When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can make,
-- Brené Brown

#Sacrifice #Opportunity #Unique

Here's what is truly at the heart of wholeheartedness: Worthy now, not if, not when, we're worthy of love and belonging now. Right this minute. As is.
-- Brené Brown

#Inspiring #Heart #Minutes