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.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Setting boundaries is crucial for healthy relationships; failing to do so leads to feelings of being mistreated.
Brené Brown emphasizes the importance of establishing boundaries in interpersonal relationships. When we neglect to set limits and fail to hold others accountable for their actions, it can lead to feelings of being taken advantage of, mistreated, or even resentful. Instead of addressing unacceptable behaviors, we may resort to attacking the person's character, which can cause more harm than good. This quote highlights the need for clear communication and mutual respect in our connections with others.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on healthy relationships, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of setting boundaries.
More from Bren Brown
All quotes →Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky.
What we know matters but who we are matters more.
Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are.
Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.
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.
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An argument would have begun to steam and boil and sputter - and you know how arguments end. Even if I had convinced him that he was wrong, his pride would have made it difficult for him to back down and give in.
I kind of cheer the presence of any gay characters at all - I think the more we can saturate television with any gay character or lesbian character or transgender character, I think that's a really great thing. We're kind of getting past the fact that they're the punchline or that they're the novelty.
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Everyone disliked their partners at some time or another, she knew that. But she’d spent her hours in the dark wondering whether she’d ever liked him. Would it really have been so much worse to spend those years alone? Why did there have to be someone else in the room while she was eating, watching TV, sleeping?