20 Transformative Quotes from "Daring Greatly" - Dare to be Vulnerable
HAY, how art you? In this article, I am sharing 20 transformative quotes from the book “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown. This book was featured in my July art and lifestyle favourites blog post, and I just completed the book last week. It really inspired me to face my fears, put them aside and start creating content that inspires (read more in this blog post). I believe the battle with feelings of shame and vulnerability is lifelong; no matter which phase we may be at – a student, an employee, a boss, a spouse, or a parent, we have to deal with vulnerability in our own ways.
Here are 20 quotes on the topics of shame, vulnerability, and courage.
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quote #1 - on why vulnerability is important
“If we want to reclaim the essential emotional part of our lives and reignite our passion and purpose, we have to learn how to own and engage with our vulnerability and how to feel the emotions that come with it.”
Quote #2 - on empathy
“That’s why empathy can be conveyed without speaking a word — it just takes looking into someone’s eyes and seeing yourself reflected back in an engaged way.”
Quote #3 - the paradox of openness
“We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we’re afraid to let them see it in us.”
Quote #4 - a chicken-and-egg issue
“We need to feel trust to be vulnerable and we need to be vulnerable in order to trust.”
Quote #5 - on believing that you are worthy
“A sense of worthiness inspires us to be vulnerable, share openly, and persevere. Shame keeps us small, resentful, and afraid.”
Quote #6 - on combatting shame
“Shame hates having words wrapped around it. If we speak shame, it begins to wither. Just the way exposure to light was deadly for the gremlins, language and story bring light to shame and destroy it.”
Quote #7 - on showing yourself kindness
“Self-compassion is key because when we’re able to be gentle with ourselves in the midst of shame, we’re more likely to reach out, connect, and experience empathy.”
Quote #8 - a goodie originally from Carl Jung
“I am not what has happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”
Quote #9 - on why we judge
“We are hard on others because we’re hard on ourselves. That’s exactly how judgment works.”
Quote #10 - on the mechanics of love
“Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them — we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.”
Quote #11 - on seeking joy in the ordinary
“Joy comes to us in moments — ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.”
Check out this Journal With Me video featuring this quote.
Quote #12 - on perfectionism
“Healthy striving is self-focused: How can I improve? Perfectionism is other-focused: What will they think?”
Quote #13 - on intent, originally by Jennifer Louden
“It’s not what you do; it’s why you do it that makes the difference.”
Quote #14 - on connecting with others deeply
“Ordinarily, when we reach out and share ourselves — our fears, hopes, struggles, and joy — we create small sparks of connection. Our shared vulnerability creates light in normally dark places.”
Quote #15 - an analogy of how shame works
“Shame works like termites in a house. It’s hidden in the dark behind the walls and constantly eating away at our infrastructure, until one day the stairs suddenly crumble. Only then do we realize that it’s only a matter of time before the walls come tumbling down.”
Quote #16 - vulnerability and the feedback process
“Vulnerability is at the heart of the feedback process. This is true whether we give, receive, or solicit feedback.”
Quote #17 - on parenting
“The question isn’t so much “Are you parenting the right way?” as it is: “Are you the adult that you want your child to grow up to be?””
Quote #18 - on owning your story
“The power of owning our stories, even the difficult ones, is that we get to write the ending.”
Quote #19 - quantifying the idea of hope
“Hope is a combination of setting goals, having the tenacity and perseverance to pursue them, and believing in our own abilities. Hope is Plan B.”
Quote #20 - on daring greatly
“Nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as believing that I’m standing on the outside of my life looking in and wondering what it would be like if I had the courage to show up and let myself be seen.”
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