Brené Brown studies vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame. But why should we really listen to her?
She is not only a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work but her groundbreaking research on the impact of shame on our lives led her to give one of the most popular TED talks of all time.
She has dedicated the past ten years of her life studying vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame.
She believes that we deepen our own humanity and connectedness to one another if we are aware of the impact of shame, and learn to empathize with others.
She became an inspiration to millions of people around the world because of her research.
She has a way with words and here are Brené Brown quotes that will inspire us to be brave:
Brené Brown quotes on embracing vulnerability
“What we know matters but who we are matters more.”
“If you trade your authenticity for safety, you may experience the following: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, rage, blame, resentment, and inexplicable grief.”
“Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.”
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”
(Check out our carefully curated 100 quotes on courage for more inspiration like this.)
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.”
“Don’t try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer.”
“Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.”
“You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”
Brené Brown quotes about change and vulnerability
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”
“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 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”
Brené Brown quotes about success and happiness
“Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect.”
“Everyone wants to know why customer service has gone to hell in a handbasket. I want to know why customer behavior has gone to hell in a handbasket.”
“To love ourselves and support each other in the process of becoming real is perhaps the greatest single act of daring greatly.”
“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.”
“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
“We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.”
“DIG deep–get deliberate, inspired, and going.”
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“Talk about your failures without apologizing.”
“It’s not about ‘what can I accomplish?’ but ‘what do I want to accomplish?’ Paradigm shift.”
“Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”
“To me, a leader is someone who holds her- or himself accountable for finding potential in people and processes.”
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day.”
Brené Brown quotes that speaks to your heart
“When we work from a place, I believe, that says ‘I’m enough,’ then we stop screaming and start listening, we’re kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we’re kinder and gentler to ourselves.”
“Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.”
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.”
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.”
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.”
“If you can’t ask for help without self-judgment, you cannot offer help without judging others.”
“Our job is not to deny the story, but to defy the ending—to rise strong, recognize our story, and rumble with the truth until we get to a place where we think, Yes. This is what happened. And I will choose how the story ends.”
“I believe that what we regret most are our failures of courage, whether it’s the courage to be kinder, to show up, to say how we feel, to set boundaries, to be good to ourselves. For that reason, regret can be the birthplace of empathy.”
“Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone.’”
“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.”
“We run from grief because loss scares us, yet our hearts reach toward grief because the broken parts want to mend.”
“I thought faith would say, ‘I’ll take away the pain and discomfort,’ but what it ended up saying was, ‘I’ll sit with you in it.’”
“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.”
“Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.”
In conclusion:
Brene Brown inspires millions of people around the world with her words.
Quoting her is a homage to her legendary work and unwavering dedication to making the world a brighter place.
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