Who doesn’t love Brené Brown quotes? Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past thirteen years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, including Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection. Brené’s TEDx talk on vulnerability has been viewed more than sixty million times and is one of the most popular talks in TED history.

We’ve curated some of the best Brené Brown quotes for when you’re looking for motivation, inspiration or encouragement.

Brené Brown Quotes

“If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”

“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”

“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.”

“You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.”

“Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It’s the fear that we’re not good enough.”

“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.”

“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.”

“We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.”

“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. Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.”

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

“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.”

“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.”

“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.”

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

“What we know matters but who we are matters more.”

“A crisis highlights all of our fault lines. We can pretend that we have nothing to learn, or we can take this opportunity to own the truth and make a better future for ourselves and others.”

“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.”

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.”

Interested in more empowering Brené Brown content? Here’s the Top 7 Brené Brown books:

• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
• Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
• Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution
• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
• Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
• I Thought It Was Just Me: Making the Journey from ‘What Will People Think?’ to ‘I Am Enough

Next, check out our 47 Inspirational Quotes By Women For Women.

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