Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It's the fear that we're not good enough.
Brene BrownRead
As a vulnerability researcher, the greatest barrier I see is our low tolerance for vulnerability. We're almost afraid to be happy. We feel like it's inviting disaster.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human fear of vulnerability often prevents us from experiencing true happiness.
Brene Brown emphasizes that many people avoid vulnerability due to a fear of potential negative outcomes, believing that embracing happiness might lead to disaster. This mindset creates a barrier to connecting with our emotions and ultimately enjoying life more fully, as we often equate vulnerability with weakness rather than a fundamental aspect of our shared human experience.
Themes
VulnerabilityHappinessFearDisasterEmotions
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing life changes, I might say, 'As Brene Brown reminds us, we often fear vulnerability, thinking it invites disaster, yet it's essential for happiness.'
More from Brene Brown
All quotes βI think our capacity for wholeheartedness can never be greater than our willingness to be broken-hearted. It means engaging with the world from a place of vulnerability and worthiness.
Brene BrownRead
Men walk this tightrope where any sign of weakness illicits shame, and so they're afraid to make themselves vulnerable for fear of looking weak.
Brene BrownRead
I hesitate to use a pathologizing label, but underneath the so-called narcissistic personality is definitely shame and the paralyzing fear of being ordinary.
Brene BrownRead
I'm not a parenting expert. In fact, I'm not sure that I even believe in the idea of 'parenting experts.' I'm an engaged, imperfect parent and a passionate researcher. I'm an experienced mapmaker and a stumbling traveler. Like many of you, parenting is by far my boldest and most daring adventure.
Brene BrownRead
I've learned that men and women who are living wholehearted lives really allow themselves to soften into joy and happiness. They allow themselves to experience it.
Brene BrownRead
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There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousands truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away.
Henry Ward BeecherRead
When I left the house of bondage I left everything behind. I wasn't going to keep nothing of Egypt on me, an' so I went to the Lord an' asked him to give me a new name. And he gave me Sojourner because I was to travel up and down the land showing the people their sins and bein' a sign unto them. I told the Lord I wanted two names 'cause everybody else had two, and the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people.
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Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight.
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Good morning, daddy! Ain't you heard The boogie-woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? β’ β’ β’ β’ You think It's a happy beat?
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I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do. In this trifling particular, then, I appear to be wiser than he, because I do not fancy I know what I do not know.
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The patient is not likely to recover who makes the doctor his heir.
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