---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned how to worry more about how I…"
description: "\"“I learned how to worry more about how I felt and less about “what people might think.” I was setting new boundaries and began to let go of my need to ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg"
---

#  I learned how to worry more about how I felt and less…

![“I learned how to worry more about how I felt and less about “what people might think.” I was setting new boundaries and began to let go of my need to please, perform, and perfect. I started saying no rather than sure (and being resentful and pissed off later). I began to say “Oh, hell yes!” rather…” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg)

> ““I learned how to worry more about how I felt and less about “what people might think.” I was setting new boundaries and began to let go of my need to please, perform, and perfect. I started saying no rather than sure (and being resentful and pissed off later). I began to say “Oh, hell yes!” rather than “Sounds fun, but I have lots of work to do” or “I’ll do that when I’m \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (thinner, less busy, better prepared).””

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker shares a journey from people-pleasing to setting boundaries, emphasizing authenticity and saying “no” to protect well‑being.

**In simple terms:** Set boundaries, say no, embrace authenticity.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize self‑care over approval.

Themes

boundaries authenticity self‑care

Mood

empowering reflective

Type

personal psychological

When to use this quote

- workplace
- relationships
- mental health

Key Concepts

personal growth assertiveness

Questions to Reflect On

- What boundaries do you need?
- How can you practice saying no?

A Different Perspective

May be hard to implement consistently.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sometimes with a flutter of agitated worry that felt like a beetle was trapped inside my ribs. p. 90”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/sometimes-with-a-flutter-of-agitated-worry-that-felt-like-a-beetle/)

[Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/)

> [“Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/begin-as-you-mean-to-go-on-and-go-on-as-you-began-and-let-the-lord-be/)

[Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/)

> [And I began to let him go. Hour by hour. Days into months. It was a physical sensation, like letting out the string of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/and-i-began-to-let-him-go-hour-by-hour-days-into-months-it-was-a/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [I’ve learned not to worry about what might come next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-learned-not-to-worry-about-what-might-come-next/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-have-learned-not-to-worry-about-love-but-to-honor-its-coming-with/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [I learned not to worry so much about the outcome, but to concentrate on the step I was on and to try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wozniak/i-learned-not-to-worry-so-much-about-the-outcome-but-to-concentrate/)

[Steve Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wozniak/)

> [I have learned to not worry about things I can't control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-weatherill/i-have-learned-to-not-worry-about-things-i-can-t-control/)

[Jay Weatherill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-weatherill/)

> [People started saying I was ignoring my country, making up stories about me. Ludicrous things, like that I throw tea on my assistants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/people-started-saying-i-was-ignoring-my-country-making-up-stories/)

[Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/)

> [Everybody started saying, well, this cat's not as dumb as people think he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/everybody-started-saying-well-this-cat-s-not-as-dumb-as-people-think/)

[David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/)

> [People started saying, 'Oh you know, he's quicker than he looks', and I'm like, 'What does that mean? Do I look slow, or I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/people-started-saying-oh-you-know-he-s-quicker-than-he-looks-and-i-m/)

[Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/)

> [“People always want to define you by what you do. I started saying: ‘i am not too concerned with what i’m going to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/people-always-want-to-define-you-by-what-you-do-i-started-saying-i-am/)

[Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/)

> [When I started out, maybe because I did Thelma &amp; Louise early on - but people were always asking, "Are things better for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/when-i-started-out-maybe-because-i-did-thelma-louise-early-on-but/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [My parents thought, 'Oh, my God! What's wrong with him? He's possessed or something.' All of a sudden, I stood up and started saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-julia/my-parents-thought-oh-my-god-what-s-wrong-with-him-he-s-possessed-or/)

[Raul Julia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-julia/)

> [When Howard Dean started saying some honest things, they hung him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/when-howard-dean-started-saying-some-honest-things-they-hung-him/)

[Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/)

> [I didn't think I had a weird voice until everyone started saying I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tones-and-i/i-didn-t-think-i-had-a-weird-voice-until-everyone-started-saying-i-did/)

[Tones and I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tones-and-i/)

## More by Brené Brown

> [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/)

[Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

[Explore all 759 Brené Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

## More Worry quotes

> [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/)

[Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/)

> [Not reassuring when weathermen say 'Today will be terrible but don't worry it won't be as terrible as tomorrow or Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/not-reassuring-when-weathermen-say-today-will-be-terrible-but-don-t/)

[Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/)

[Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/)

> [“I worry about you. Not just about your safety. I worry when you’re stressed. I worry when you’re unhappy.” His words leveled her world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-a-bardan/i-worry-about-you-not-just-about-your-safety-i-worry-when-you-re/)

Amber A. Bardan

> [You should never stress and worry when you can always pray and have Faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-should-never-stress-and-worry-when-you-can-always-pray-and-have/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [ “\[T\]he people who are close to Allah worry so much about wasting time that they call themselves to account for every breath they spend… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethar-el-katatney/t-he-people-who-are-close-to-allah-worry-so-much-about-wasting-time/)

Ethar El- Katatney

> [“But if that was going to happen, it was going to happen whether or not he worried about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/but-if-that-was-going-to-happen-it-was-going-to-happen-whether-or-not/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

> [I worry about Las Vegas schools. I hear in math, they only teach them to count to 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-worry-about-las-vegas-schools-i-hear-in-math-they-only-teach-them/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [If I told my wife I was going to become a manager she'd say 'sign this then. Don't worry it's only a divorce. Au…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ginola/if-i-told-my-wife-i-was-going-to-become-a-manager-she-d-say-sign-this/)

[David Ginola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ginola/)

> [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/)

[Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/)

> [ When they \[people with insomnia\] start worrying about not sleeping, I'll say, "Say the mantra to myself; if I don't sleep tonight, I'll likely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/when-they-people-with-insomnia-start-worrying-about-not-sleeping-i-ll/)

[Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/)

> [You could get in rehearsals, pre-production, anything that would actually contribute to the understanding of how a film gets made. I actually find those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/you-could-get-in-rehearsals-pre-production-anything-that-would/)

[Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/)

[Browse all 8,386 Worry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I learned how to worry more about how I felt and less about “what people might think.” I was setting new boundaries and began to let go of my need to please, perform, and perfect. I started saying no rather than sure (and being resentful and pissed off later). I began to say “Oh, hell yes!” rather than “Sounds fun, but I have lots of work to do” or “I’ll do that when I’m _________ (thinner, less busy, better prepared).”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brené Brown"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i-felt-and-less-about-what/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Worry"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i-felt-and-less-about-what/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bren-brown-280_worry_i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i_2824647.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I learned how to worry more about how I felt and less about “what people might think.” I was setting new…” — Brené Brown",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Brené Brown",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I learned how to worry more...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i-felt-and-less-about-what/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-learned-how-to-worry-more-about-how-i-felt-and-less-about-what/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
