15 Brené Brown quotes to empower your teacher heart during the darkest of times

While every day gets harder, I get stronger, and I’m thankful the two somewhat balance themselves out. 

When I was sitting in a giant circle at an intense and emotional staff meeting last week, I realized just how much Brené’s words have transformed the way I lead and my identity as a teacher and human being. 

As I was stumbling over my words, trying to explain the shame I feel every day being a special education teacher, I realized I still wasn’t speaking my truth entirely out of fear of being furthered shamed or another round of unfair consequences. I shared that fear but did not share everything I truly wanted to say. Because sometimes it takes time and that’s okay.

My journey started with being drawn to some of Brené’s wise words and this last month, transitioned into the next stage after I read her book Dare to Lead. 

I’m struggling right now but I can honestly say my teacher heart is more brave and optimistic because of Brené’s empowering words below.

1.”The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you’re enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect.”

2. “Living into our values means that we do more than profess our values, we practice them. We walk our talk—we are clear about what we believe and hold important, and we take care that our intentions, words, thoughts, and behaviors align with those beliefs.”

3. “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” 

4. “Daring leaders who live into their values are never silent about hard things.”

5. “There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers, than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned how to rise”

6. “A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we’re defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”

7. “Our values are what gives us strength when we are in the arena; often, they are what compels us to enter the arena in the first place.”

8. “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.”

9. “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.”

10. “When I see people stand fully in their truth, or when I see someone fall down, get back up, and say, ‘Damn. That really hurt, but this is important to me and I’m going in again’—my gut reaction is, ‘What a badass.”

11. “Being vulnerable and self-management (showing up in a professional, respectful way) are not mutually exclusive – we should do both. We have to think about what we’re sharing, why we’re sharing, and, equally important, with whom. What is my role? What is their role? Does sharing this make sense? Why is it important for me to share this? Am I doing personal work here or am I trying to move a process forward?”

12. “Wholeheartedness calls on us to put down the armor and bring out the more shadowy parts of ourselves and our history—the parts we’ve always been scared to own, and that we spend a lot of time and energy ignoring—and fold them into ourselves, to create a complex, messy, awesome whole. “

13. “As children we found ways to protect ourselves from vulnerability, from being hurt, diminished, and disappointed. We put on armor; we used our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as weapons; and we learned how to make ourselves scarce, even to disappear. Now as adults we realize that to live with courage, purpose, and connection– to be the person who we long to be– we must again be vulnerable. We must take off the armor, put down the weapons, show up, and let ourselves be seen.” 

14. “There’s probably not a single act at work that requires more vulnerability than holding people responsible for ethics and values, especially you’re alone in it or there’s a lot of money, power, or influence at stake. People will put you down, question your intentions, hate you, and sometimes try to discredit you in the process of protecting themselves. So if you don’t “do” vulnerability, and/or you have a culture that thinks vulnerability is a weakness, then it’s no wonder that ethical decision making is a problem.” 

15. “As you think about your own path to daring leadership, remember Joseph Campbell’s wisdom: ‘The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.’ Own the fear, find the cave, and write a new ending for yourself, for the people you’re meant to serve and support, and for your culture. Choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armor. And choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid. At the exact same time.” 

I hope some of these strong words start your #empowermenttrip like they started mine.

Happy Monday!

with kindness  |  ashley