76 Brené Brown Quotes on Vulnerability and Courage in Relationships
Born in 1965, in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Casandra Brené Brown is an American academic, consultant, author and research professor at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work. Brown is a number one New York Times best-selling author, hosts weekly Spotify podcasts and is the CEO of “The Daring Way”, a professional program that provides training on the topics of vulnerability, courage, and empathy.
The eldest of four children, Brown studied social work at the University of Texas at Austin and then went on to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree in social work from the University of Houston. Known for her research on vulnerability, courage and leadership, she became famous following her 2010 TEDx talk on “The Power of Vulnerability” that went viral, becoming one of the top 5 talks of all time.
Through her pioneering work, Dr. Brown provides us with new ways of re-examining ourselves and our belief systems. By cultivating a new mindset of self-acceptance and breaking free from our “cult of perfection” misconceptions, we will better understand who we truly are we will evolve into a better version of ourselves. Acknowledging our imperfections and getting exposed to emotional uncertainty and risk will help us identify gaps and cracks we need to close and unravel a whole universe of new choices and experiences that give meaning to our life.
Here we have collected for you the most inspirational quotes of this great empowerment leader and thought guru to help you start your day with positive energy. Share them with friends and loved ones to brighten their day! Use them as vibey captions to grab your audience’s attention and create buzz on your Instagram posts! Ruminate upon them to gain insight and transform your perspective of life for the better!
Table of Contents
- Short Inspirational Brené Brown Quotes To Get Started
- Brené Brown Quotes on Relationships, Connection and Belonging
- Brené Brown Quotes About life
- Brené Brown Vulnerability Quotes
- Brené Brown Leadership Quotes
Short Inspirational Brené Brown Quotes To Get Started
A number of enlightening and thought-provoking one-liner quotes that will make exciting captions for your Instagram and social media posts!
- Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change. Brené Brown
- You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging. Brené Brown
- Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. Brené Brown
- We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions. Brené Brown
- The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button. Brené Brown
- Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen. Brené Brown
- Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind. Brené Brown
- Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. Brené Brown
- What we know matters but who we are matters more. Brené Brown
- There is absolutely no innovation without failure. Brené Brown
- Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. Brené Brown
- Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage. Brené Brown
- Only when diverse perspectives are included, respected, and valued can we start to get a full picture of the world. Brené Brown
- 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
- Don’t try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer. Brené Brown
- Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change. Brené Brown
- Until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart. Brené Brown
- Cruelty is easy, cheap and rampant. Brené Brown
- Numb the dark and you numb the light. Brené Brown
- I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do. Brené Brown
- Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up. Brené Brown
- Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together. Brené Brown
- Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect. Brené Brown
- If you own this story you get to write the ending. Brené Brown
- What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude. Brené Brown
- Maybe stories are just data with a soul. Brené Brown
- We’re a nation hungry for more joy: Because we’re starving from a lack of gratitude. Brené Brown
- 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. Brene Brown
- Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. Brené Brown
- You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviors. Brené Brown
- Worthiness doesn’t have prerequisites. Brené Brown
- Shame derives its power from being unspeakable. Brené Brown
Brené Brown Quotes on Relationships, Connection and Belonging
These mind-opening quotes will allow you to view things from a different angle, helping you find your way back to yourself and discovering the right language to a meaningful connection!
- Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect. Brené Brown
- 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
- If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive. Brené Brown
- Just because someone isn’t willing or able to love us, it doesn’t mean that we are unlovable. Brené Brown
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.’ Brené Brown
- 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
Brené Brown Quotes About life
A selection of Dr. Brown’s quotes that provide guidance and advice on how to fully engage in life! Scroll through these succinct words of wisdom and discover new ways to change your life today!
- 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? Brené Brown
- We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary. Brené Brown
- Courage is like—it’s a habitus, a habit, a virtue: You get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging. Brené Brown
- 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
- 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
- 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. Brené Brown
- It’s in our biology to trust what we see with our eyes. This makes living in a carefully edited, overproduced and photoshopped world very dangerous. Brené Brown
- 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
- But what we know now is that when we deny our emotion, it owns us. When we own our emotion, we can rebuild and find our way through the pain. Brené Brown
- I’ve found what makes children happy doesn’t always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults. Brené Brown
- 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
- Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment. Brené Brown
- 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. Brené Brown
Brené Brown Vulnerability Quotes
Our imperfections are not weaknesses but gifts! They can provide a way through which we can rediscover ourselves and find a meaningful vocabulary for reconnecting to the world!
- Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection. Brené Brown
- 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
- Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness. Brené Brown
- Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it’s understanding the necessity of both; it’s engaging. It’s being all in. Brené Brown
- 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
- 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. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage. Brené Brown
- 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
Brené Brown Leadership Quotes
According to Dr. Brown, leadership is not a position or a status but a mindset characterized by bravery and courage. The world needs daring and courageous leaders with a discerning eye for recognizing and developing the potential in people!
- Daring leaders work to make sure people can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. Brené Brown
- The level of collective courage in an organisation is the absolute best predictor of that organisation’s ability to be successful. Brené Brown
- A brave leader is someone who says I see you. I hear you. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m going to keep listening and asking questions. Brené Brown
- 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. Brené Brown
- I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential. Brené Brown
- 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. Brené Brown
- Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?” Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think?” Brené Brown
- Leaders must either invest a reasonable amount of time attending to fears and feelings or squander an unreasonable amount of time trying to manage ineffective and unproductive behaviour. Brené Brown
- Feeding people half-truths or bullshit to make them feel better (which is almost always about making ourselves feel more comfortable) is unkind. Brené Brown
- 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. Brené Brown
- Cynicism and sarcasm are bad in person, and even worse when they travel through email and text. Brené Brown
- It turns out that trust is in fact earned in the smallest of moments. It is earned not through heroic deeds, or even highly visible actions, but through paying attention, listening, and gestures of genuine care and connection. Brené Brown
- The only thing I know for sure after all of this research is that if you’re going to dare greatly, you’re going to get your ass kicked at some point. If you choose courage, you will absolutely know failure, disappointment, setback, even heartbreak. That’s why we call it courage. That’s why it’s so rare. Brené Brown
- 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
- There is an incredibly important, uncomfortable, and brave discussion that every single leader and every organisation in the world should be having about privilege. Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown challenges our thinking by providing new transformative ways that can help us embrace who we are and empower us to own our story. Having the courage to step out of our comfort zones and ideological bunkers, we can expose ourselves to profound truths that will allow us to regain our footing, feel happier and enjoy a fully involved existence!
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