We’re only a week away from Re:Make 2016 Summit and Festival, happening in San Francisco September 30 and October 1! And while there are a LOT of amazing speakers scheduled, we’re seriously fangirling over Dr. Brené Brown. Ever since delivering her landmark TED Talk on “The power of vulnerability” back in 2010 (in the top five of all time with over 26 million views), she’s been inspiring everyone from us fangirls all the way up to queen Oprah herself, who referred to Brown as her “soulmate.”
All her fans are totally inspired by her message of overcoming fears of failure and heartbreak, as well as the fear of letting yourself be truly happy and fulfilled, in order to live your best and happiest life! And best of all, she backs it all up with loads of research. She has three books to top the New York Times Bestseller list, and now she has a new program of online classes and workshops called COURAGEworks that encourage “braver living and loving.”
If you’re coming to Re:Make, you’ll get to experience her amazingness IRL, but until then, let’s look back on 10 quotes that were hugely inspiring and eye-opening to us.
1. Nothing’s harder or more painful than not being yourself — so be authentic. “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.”
2. Realizing that you ARE worthy changes everything. “When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.”
3. Don’t let shame hold you back or make you feel unworthy. “Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It’s the fear that we’re not good enough.”
4. Don’t let shame hold you back, but be careful who you share it with. “If we share our shame story with the wrong person, they can easily become one more piece of flying debris in an already dangerous storm.”
5. Fear protects you from hurt… but also can keep you from joy. “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.”
6. Vulnerability is *particularly* important in love. “Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can’t ensure, who may stay in our lives or may leave without a moment’s notice, who may be loyal to the day they die or betray us tomorrow — that’s vulnerability.”
7. Perfectionism isn’t a goal; it’s the path to disappointment. “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.”
8. Seriously, though, stop caring what other people think. “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.”
9. Wake up! Happiness is usually right in front of you. “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.”
10. Letting go of fear is when you start being your most creative self. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”
Want to come see Brené Brown speak IRL? Register here for Re:Make 2016, and tweet us your favorite quotes @BritandCo!
