--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to…" description: "\"Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.\" — Brené Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg" --- # Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to… ![“Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg) > “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” [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. Embracing vulnerability is essential for forming deep, meaningful relationships. **In simple terms:** Vulnerability enables true connection. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to be open. Themes vulnerability connection trust Mood courageous reflective Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - team building - friendships - romantic relationships - therapy - leadership Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect yourself while staying open? - When does vulnerability become a liability? A Different Perspective Not everyone responds positively; vulnerability can be exploited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [“Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism. Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-is-telling-our-story-not-being-immune-to-criticism-staying/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“The problem is that when we don’t care at all what people think and we’re immune to hurt, we’re also ineffective at connecting. Courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/the-problem-is-that-when-we-don-t-care-at-all-what-people-think-and/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“To be human is necessarily to be a vulnerable risk-taker; to be a courageous human is to be good at it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lear/to-be-human-is-necessarily-to-be-a-vulnerable-risk-taker-to-be-a/) Jonathan Lear > [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/) > [What makes something better is connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/what-makes-something-better-is-connection/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“connection as “the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-as-the-energy-that-exists-between-people-when-they-feel/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-cultivate-love-when-we-allow-our-most-vulnerable-and-powerful/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [To live with courage, purpose, and connection - to be the person whom we long to be - we must again be vulnerable. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/to-live-with-courage-purpose-and-connection-to-be-the-person-whom-we/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The second thing we did was said, OK, we've now identified the risk, but what do you want to do with the money? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/the-second-thing-we-did-was-said-ok-we-ve-now-identified-the-risk-but/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [Take risk to get where you want to be. Put as much effort in what you do. Hold on to everything you got, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makai1k5/take-risk-to-get-where-you-want-to-be-put-as-much-effort-in-what-you/) [Makai1k5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makai1k5/) > [So you want to take the risk, and you want to step out there; you do it because that's what we have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/so-you-want-to-take-the-risk-and-you-want-to-step-out-there-you-do-it/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) > [You got to risk it if you want the biscuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-goodman/you-got-to-risk-it-if-you-want-the-biscuit/) [Len Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-goodman/) > [I want someone who puts the whole ball of wax at risk. I want the kind of marriage where we would follow each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/i-want-someone-who-puts-the-whole-ball-of-wax-at-risk-i-want-the-kind/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [Any time you do anything different in this life, it's risky. But I've only done things differently, and it's gotten me quite far. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giada-de-laurentiis/any-time-you-do-anything-different-in-this-life-it-s-risky-but-i-ve/) [Giada De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giada-de-laurentiis/) > [Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/sometimes-you-have-to-take-a-risk-if-you-want-great-things-to-happen/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) ## 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 Connection quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [I believe that we have a huge problem with the water in America. We don't want to make that connection that these chemicals, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/i-believe-that-we-have-a-huge-problem-with-the-water-in-america-we/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [“Your passion is your connection to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/your-passion-is-your-connection-to-god/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Religion is no longer a connection point for most people. Our communities were built on coming together in physical locations once a week or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-mckelvey/religion-is-no-longer-a-connection-point-for-most-people-our/) [Miguel McKelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-mckelvey/) > [“A man becomes creative, whether he is an artist or a scientist, when he finds a new unity in the variety of nature. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/a-man-becomes-creative-whether-he-is-an-artist-or-a-scientist-when-he/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“If you cannot wait for time to unearth roots, you must dig.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelou-keramati/if-you-cannot-wait-for-time-to-unearth-roots-you-must-dig/) Nelou Keramati > [“As a species, we are hardwired for connection. We are our best selves when we are sharing and communicating with others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/as-a-species-we-are-hardwired-for-connection-we-are-our-best-selves/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“If you feel you don’t know the right people, turn to the next person you see on the street and introduce yourself—that connection could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-davis-jr/if-you-feel-you-don-t-know-the-right-people-turn-to-the-next-person/) [Raoul Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-davis-jr/) > [I'm uninterested in superheroes. I am only interested in real stories, real people, real connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-m-uninterested-in-superheroes-i-am-only-interested-in-real-stories/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [There's a spectrum of those moments of connection and the moments we fail to connect, going from super-large successes to failures. Success would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/there-s-a-spectrum-of-those-moments-of-connection-and-the-moments-we/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [I think my work comes out of both an intense desire for connection and what it means to feel isolated. There's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-my-work-comes-out-of-both-an-intense-desire-for-connection/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I always have this sense of food as triangular, in that one point is nourishment, one point is connection, and one point is pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crescent-dragonwagon/i-always-have-this-sense-of-food-as-triangular-in-that-one-point-is/) [Crescent Dragonwagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crescent-dragonwagon/) > [I don't mind writing so I didn't find that difficult, it's just a question of finding the time to do it. I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/i-don-t-mind-writing-so-i-didn-t-find-that-difficult-it-s-just-a/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) [Browse all 1,649 Connection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brené Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to-take-if-we-want-to-experience/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Connection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to-take-if-we-want-to-experience/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/bren-brown-280_connections_staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to_1980662.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” — 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": "Staying vulnerable is a risk we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to-take-if-we-want-to-experience/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/staying-vulnerable-is-a-risk-we-have-to-take-if-we-want-to-experience/#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 } } ] } ```