83 Of Brene Brown’s Most Influential & Inspiring Quotes To Live A Life Of Courage & Authenticity
"Vulnerability Is The Birthplace Of Innovation, Creativity, And Change."
Brené Brown is a world-renowned researcher, speaker, and author whose work has had a profound impact on the way we think about vulnerability, courage, and shame.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1965, Brown earned her Ph.D. in social work from the University of Houston in 2002 and has since dedicated her career to exploring the complex emotional experiences that shape our lives.
Through her writing and speaking engagements, she has become a respected voice on topics ranging from shame and empathy to vulnerability and resilience, inspiring people all over the world to embrace their imperfections and live more authentically.
One of the most powerful aspects of Brown's work is her ability to take complex concepts and make them accessible and relatable to everyday people.
Her TEDx Talk "The Power of Vulnerability" has been viewed more than 45 million times, making it one of the most popular TED Talks of all time, and her books, including "Daring Greatly" and "Rising Strong," have become best-sellers and widely read by individuals and organizations alike.
One of the things that sets Brown apart from other experts in her field is her willingness to share her own experiences and struggles, which makes her relatable and approachable to her audience.
Her vulnerability and authenticity are what draw people to her work and make her a sought-after speaker and consultant, and her ability to communicate complex ideas in simple, relatable terms has made her a sought-after speaker and consultant by organizations around the world.
Some of Brené Brown's most famous quotes reflect her philosophy of embracing vulnerability and living a life of courage and authenticity.
For example, she says, "Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness."
This quote speaks to the idea that the things that make us the most vulnerable can also be the source of our greatest strength, and that by embracing our imperfections and living an authentic life, we can achieve a level of courage and fulfillment that is difficult to attain otherwise.
Another famous Brené Brown quote is, "Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging."
This quote speaks to the insidious nature of shame, which can be a powerful force that undermines our sense of self-worth and erodes our relationships with others.
Brown's work provides a roadmap for how we can overcome shame and reclaim our sense of self-worth, so that we can live a life of meaning and purpose.
Overall, Brené Brown is a leading voice on the topics of vulnerability, shame, and courage, and her work has had a profound impact on people all over the world.
Through her writing and speaking engagements, she has inspired millions to embrace their imperfections and live more authentically, and her famous quotes continue to inspire people to be courageous and true to themselves.
Whether you're looking for inspiration, guidance, or just a fresh perspective on life, Brené Brown's work is a must-read for anyone looking to live a life of meaning and purpose.
Inspirational & Motivational Brené Brown's Quotes
"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love."
"But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others. It's a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts."
"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."
"There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period."
"Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it's understanding the necessity of both; it's engaging. It's being all in."
"Dig deep - get deliberate, inspired, and going."
"The middle is messy, but it is also where the magic happens."
"We are born makers. We move what we're learning from our heads to our hearts through our hands."
"To me, a leader is someone who holds herself/himself accountable for finding potential in people and processes."
"Midlife: when the Universe grabs your shoulders and tells you 'I'm not f-ing around, use the gifts you were given.'"
"Grace means that all of your mistakes now serve a purpose instead of serving shame."
"Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It's the fear that we're not good enough."
"The opposite of belonging is fitting in."
"Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up."
"If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive."
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"Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect."
"In a society that says, 'Put yourself last,' self-love and self-acceptance are revolutionary."
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."
"You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging."
"True belonging never asks us to change who we are. True belonging requires us to be who we are."
"We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to."
"Worthiness doesn’t have prerequisites."
"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."
"Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together."
"Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are."
"I now see that owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do."
"What we know matters, but who we are matters more."
"If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive."
"The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows."
"To see and to be seen. That is the truest nature of love."
"You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness."
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are."
"I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness—it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude."
"The only unique contribution that we will ever make in this world will be born of our creativity."
"What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think – or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?"
"Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome."
"If we are brave enough often enough, we will fall. These are the physics of vulnerability."
"Everyone has a story or a struggle that will break your heart. And, if we’re really paying attention, most people have a story that will bring us to our knees."
"Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light."
"We are born makers. We move what we’re learning from our heads to our hearts through our hands."
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Courageous & Vulnerability Brené Brown's Quotes
"True belonging is not passive. It's a practice that requires us to be vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are."
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."
"Brave leaders are never silent around hard things."
"Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous."
"The truth is that falling hurts. The dare is to keep being brave and feel your way back up."
"At the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of my life, I want to say that I contributed more than I criticized."
"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."
"Shame loves perfectionists — it's so easy to keep us quiet."
"We can choose courage, or we can choose comfort, but we can't have both. Not at the same time."
"True belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others. It's a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts."
"Hope is a function of struggle."
"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness."
"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."
"Talk about your failures without apologizing."
"Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection."
Long Brené Brown's Quotes
"You may not have signed up for a hero's journey, but the second you fell down, got your butt kicked, suffered a disappointment, screwed up, or felt your heart break, it started. It doesn't matter whether we are ready for an emotional adventure—hurt happens. And it happens to every single one of us. Without exception. The only decision we get to make is what role we'll play in our own lives: Do we want to write the story, or do we want to hand that power over to someone else? Choosing to write our own story means getting uncomfortable; it's choosing courage over comfort."
"A crisis highlights all of our fault lines. We can pretend that we have nothing to learn, or we can take this opportunity to own the truth and make a better future for ourselves and others."
"There will be times when standing alone feels too hard, too scary, and we'll doubt our ability to make our way through the uncertainty. Someone, somewhere, will say, 'Don't do it. You don't have what it takes to survive the wilderness.' This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, 'I am the wilderness.'"
"When we combine the courage to make clear what works for us and what doesn't with the compassion to assume people are doing their best, our lives change."
"Courage is contagious. A critical mass of brave leaders is the foundation of an intentionally courageous culture. Every time we are brave with our lives, we make the people around us a little braver and our organizations bolder and stronger."
"Until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly, or unknowingly, attach judgment to giving help."
"Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them."
"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."
"We desperately need more leaders who are committed to courageous, wholehearted leadership and who are self-aware enough to lead from their hearts, rather than unevolved leaders who lead from hurt and fear."
"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 minimise the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame."
"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."
"Everyone has a story or a struggle that will break your heart. And if we're really paying attention, most people have a story that will bring us to our knees."
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"We are complex beings who wake up every day and fight against being labeled and diminished with stereotypes and characterizations that don't reflect our fullness. Yet when we don't risk standing on our own and speaking out, when the options laid before us force us into the very categories we resist, we perpetuate our own disconnection and loneliness. When we are willing to risk venturing into the wilderness, and even becoming our own wilderness, we feel the deepest connection to our true self and to what matters the most."
“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.”
“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.”
"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."
"When I see people stand fully in their truth, or when I see someone fall down, get back up, and say, 'Damn. That really hurt, but this is important to me and I'm going in again'—my gut reaction is, 'What a badass.'"
"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."
"A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick."
"A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we’re defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you're not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I'm not interested in your feedback."
"I spent a lot of years trying to outrun or outsmart vulnerability by making things certain and definite, black and white, good and bad. My inability to lean into the discomfort of vulnerability limited the fullness of those important experiences that are wrought with uncertainty: Love, belonging, trust, joy, and creativity to name a few."
"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."
"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."
"There will be times when standing alone feels too hard, too scary, and we’ll doubt our ability to make our way through the uncertainty. Someone, somewhere, will say, 'Don't do it. You don't have what it takes to survive the wilderness.' This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, 'I am the wilderness.'"
“Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don’t belong. You will always find it because you’ve made that your mission. Stop scouring people’s faces for evidence that you’re not enough. You will always find it because you’ve made that your goal. True belonging and self-worth are not goods; we don’t negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts. Our call to courage is to protect our wild heart against constant evaluation, especially our own. No one belongs here more than you.”
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“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”
“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.”
“The opposite of scarcity is not abundance; the opposite of scarcity is simply enough. Empathy is not finite, and compassion is not a pizza with eight slices. When you practice empathy and compassion with someone, there is not less of these qualities to go around. There’s more. Love is the last thing we need to ration in this world.”
How Can Quotes Help You?
Quotes can help you in a number of ways:
- Inspiration: Quotes often contain words of wisdom and encouragement that can inspire and motivate you to pursue your goals and aspirations.
- Clarity: Quotes can help you to clarify your thoughts and feelings by expressing complex ideas in a simple, concise manner.
- Perspective: Quotes can offer a different perspective on life, helping you to understand new ideas and experiences.
- Healing: Quotes can help you to find solace and comfort during difficult times, offering a source of hope and support.
- Empowerment: Quotes can help you to feel empowered, giving you the strength and confidence to face challenges and overcome obstacles.
- Reflection: Quotes can encourage you to reflect on your own life and experiences, helping you to gain insight into your thoughts and feelings.
- Connection: Quotes can help you to feel a sense of connection with others, as they often express common experiences and emotions that are universal to all people.
How Can Brené Brown's Quotes Help You?
As mentioned previously, Brene Brown is a well-known researcher, author, and speaker who has written extensively on the topics of vulnerability, shame, empathy, and courage. Her insights and wisdom have helped many people to better understand the human experience and to develop greater self-awareness, empathy, and resilience.
Here are a few ways that Brené Brown's quotes can help you:
- Inspiration and motivation: Brené Brown's quotes can provide inspiration and motivation when you're feeling discouraged or lost. They can remind you of your strengths and encourage you to keep going.
- Understanding emotions: Brené Brown's work focuses on emotions and the impact they have on our lives. Her quotes can help you better understand your own emotions and how to manage them.
- Empathy and connection: Brené Brown's insights into the importance of empathy and vulnerability can help you build stronger connections with others and foster more meaningful relationships.
- Personal growth: Brené Brown's work encourages self-reflection and personal growth. Her quotes can help you to identify areas in your life where you can make positive changes and help you to become the best version of yourself.
- Overcoming fear and shame: Brené Brown's work highlights the negative impact of shame and fear on our lives, and offers strategies for overcoming these negative emotions. Her quotes can provide comfort and support as you work through these challenges.
Next Steps
Now that you’ve read the quotes and understand their value, this is how you can implement them into your life in order to create real change:
- Choose quotes that resonate with you and align with your values and goals
- Write the quotes down and display them in a prominent place where you can see them regularly
- Reflect on the meaning and relevance of the quotes to your life
- Incorporate the messages of the quotes into your daily thoughts, actions, and decisions
- Use a coffee mug, water bottle, or tote bag with a positive message to start your day on a positive note and spread positivity to others.
- Use the quotes as a source of motivation and encouragement when facing challenges
- Regularly evaluate and adjust the quotes you use to ensure they continue to inspire and motivate you
- Share your favorite quotes with others to spread positivity and inspire others as well
- Wear a wristband or bracelet with a positive quote or mantra as a daily reminder of your goals and aspirations.
- Use a manifestation journal or planner with positive quotes to write down your thoughts and reflect on your day with a positive outlook
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Brené Brown?
Brené Brown is a research professor, author, and public speaker who is best known for her work on vulnerability, courage, shame, and empathy.
She has written several books on these topics, including the bestsellers "Daring Greatly" and "The Gifts of Imperfection."
What Are Some Of Most Famous Brené Brown's Quotes?
Some of most famous Brené Brown's quotes include:
- "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change."
- "Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do."
- "Shame cannot survive being spoken."
- "The courage to be vulnerable is the courage to show up and be seen."
How Can Brené Brown's Quotes Help People In Their Daily Lives?
Brené Brown's quotes offer insights and wisdom about various emotions and experiences that people go through in their lives.
Her quotes on vulnerability and shame, for example, encourage people to be honest about their feelings and experiences, even if they are difficult or uncomfortable.
Her quotes on courage and empathy offer a reminder that it takes bravery to be true to ourselves and to connect with others on a deep and meaningful level.
By reflecting on and internalizing Brené Brown's quotes, people can gain greater insight into their own emotions and experiences, and feel empowered to live their lives with greater authenticity and compassion.