--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to make authenticity my number one…" description: "\"“I try to make authenticity my number one goal when I go into a situation where I’m feeling vulnerable. If authenticity is my goal and I keep it real, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/bren-brown-280_authenticity_i-try-to-make-authenticity-my-number-one_2062555.jpg" --- # I try to make authenticity my number one goal when I go… ![“I try to make authenticity my number one goal when I go into a situation where I’m feeling vulnerable. If authenticity is my goal and I keep it real, I never regret it. I might get my feelings hurt, but I rarely feel shame. When acceptance or approval becomes my goal, and it doesn’t work out, that…” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/bren-brown-280_authenticity_i-try-to-make-authenticity-my-number-one_2062555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/bren-brown-280_authenticity_i-try-to-make-authenticity-my-number-one_2062555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/bren-brown-280_authenticity_i-try-to-make-authenticity-my-number-one_2062555.jpg) > ““I try to make authenticity my number one goal when I go into a situation where I’m feeling vulnerable. If authenticity is my goal and I keep it real, I never regret it. I might get my feelings hurt, but I rarely feel shame. When acceptance or approval becomes my goal, and it doesn’t work out, that can trigger shame for me: “I’m not good enough.” If the goal is authenticity and they don’t like me, I’m okay. If the goal is being liked and they don’t like me, I’m in trouble.”” [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. Prioritize authenticity over approval; being true reduces shame, even if disliked **In simple terms:** Be authentic, not people pleasing Key Takeaway Choose authenticity over acceptance Themes vulnerability authenticity self‑esteem Mood courageous introspective Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - public speaking - dating - team meetings - conflict resolution Key Concepts self‑compassion social anxiety personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - When does authenticity become selfish? - How to balance honesty with kindness? A Different Perspective Authenticity may cause relational friction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) [Feelings Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-hurt/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) ## Related quotes > [“If the goal is authenticity and they don't like me, I'm okay. If the goal is being liked and they don't like me, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-the-goal-is-authenticity-and-they-don-t-like-me-i-m-okay-if-the/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The most important thing to keep in mind when we tell stories about others, so to speak, is that authenticity should always be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ridloff/the-most-important-thing-to-keep-in-mind-when-we-tell-stories-about/) [Lauren Ridloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ridloff/) > [Let go of who you think you should be in order to be who you are. Be imperfect and have compassion for yourself. Connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/let-go-of-who-you-think-you-should-be-in-order-to-be-who-you-are-be/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/vulnerability-is-the-birthplace-of-love-belonging-joy-courage-empathy/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/our-sense-of-belonging-can-never-be-greater-than-our-level-of-self/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Why, when we know that there's no such thing as perfect, do most of us spend an incredible amount of time and energy trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/why-when-we-know-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-perfect-do-most-of-us/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When someone says something and your feelings get hurt remember its not about you. Its almost never about you whatever someone says, its always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-someone-says-something-and-your-feelings-get-hurt-remember-its/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“...in a certain sense, it's harder for men to say no to sex than it is for women. When a woman says no, nobody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelle-waldman/in-a-certain-sense-it-s-harder-for-men-to-say-no-to-sex-than-it-is/) [Adelle Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adelle-waldman/) > [I'd forgotten how much feelings hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-scott/i-d-forgotten-how-much-feelings-hurt/) [Elizabeth Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-scott/) > [I'm cautious about catching feelings, being hurt too many times made me like that...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-cautious-about-catching-feelings-being-hurt-too-many-times-made/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m sensitive. I’m nothing but a big ball of mushy sensitive stuff inside. Tell her, pumpkin.” “Your son is very sensitive,” I dutifully recited.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-scott/i-m-sensitive-i-m-nothing-but-a-big-ball-of-mushy-sensitive-stuff/) [Kylie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-scott/) > [“Abel flared his Grace and allowed the power to spark behind his eyes. “That is the second minor insult you’ve tossed my way. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-skinner/abel-flared-his-grace-and-allowed-the-power-to-spark-behind-his-eyes/) Tricia Skinner > [“The feelings that hurt most, the motions that sting most, are those that are absurd; the longing for impossible things, precisely because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/the-feelings-that-hurt-most-the-motions-that-sting-most-are-those/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“Be the Inviter “When I began my speaking career, I designed and delivered motivational programs for children teaching them success skills for life. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/be-the-inviter-when-i-began-my-speaking-career-i-designed-and/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Im scared to fall in love again on the low…i dont like my feelings being hurt !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-scared-to-fall-in-love-again-on-the-low-i-dont-like-my-feelings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Authenticity quotes > [“the property that grounded the self in Romanticism was sincerity, and in modernism was authenticity, then in postmod ernism it is visibility.10”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-property-that-grounded-the-self-in-romanticism-was-sincerity-and/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Real artists offer authenticity, not just money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhymefest/real-artists-offer-authenticity-not-just-money/) [Rhymefest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhymefest/) > [“I figure the more people think I'm just mildly weird, the less likely they are to know how weird I really am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-hooyenga/i-figure-the-more-people-think-i-m-just-mildly-weird-the-less-likely/) Melanie Hooyenga > [I think people can read authenticity and they know when you're involved and when you're just slapping your name on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-la-anthony/i-think-people-can-read-authenticity-and-they-know-when-you-re/) [La La Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-la-anthony/) > [“I strive for authenticity even though it brings with it vulnerability and the inevitable judgment of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-r-w-lee/i-strive-for-authenticity-even-though-it-brings-with-it-vulnerability/) [L.R.W. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-r-w-lee/) > [Children go where they find sincerity and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/children-go-where-they-find-sincerity-and-authenticity/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [Anything that I ever do is from the heart and authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/anything-that-i-ever-do-is-from-the-heart-and-authentic/) [Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/) > [What I love about Nivea is they're all about authenticity. The brand isn't pretending to be anything it isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-virtue/what-i-love-about-nivea-is-they-re-all-about-authenticity-the-brand/) [Tessa Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-virtue/) > [There is nothing which so certifies the genuineness of a man's faith as his patience and his patient endurance, his keeping on steadily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-which-so-certifies-the-genuineness-of-a-man-s-faith/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're really famous, there's very little authenticity in people, so you prefer the company of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/when-you-re-really-famous-there-s-very-little-authenticity-in-people/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [No man knows the genuineness of his convictions until he has sacrificed something for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/no-man-knows-the-genuineness-of-his-convictions-until-he-has/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) [Browse all 1,437 Authenticity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I try to make authenticity my number one goal when I go into a situation where I’m feeling vulnerable. 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