--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we're defined by what people think…" description: "\"When we're defined by what people think we lose the courage to be vulnerable.\" — Brené Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg" --- # When we're defined by what people think we lose the… ![“When we're defined by what people think we lose the courage to be vulnerable.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg) > “When we're defined by what people think we lose the courage to be vulnerable.” [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. Relying on others' opinions stifles authenticity and blocks true connection. **In simple terms:** Fear of judgment hinders openness. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability despite judgment. Themes authenticity vulnerability self‑acceptance Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - creative work Key Concepts psychology social pressure courage Questions to Reflect On - How can you test others' judgment? - What small act of vulnerability can you try today? A Different Perspective Vulnerability can be exploited if not balanced with boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Daring greatly means the courage to be vulnerable. It means to show up and be seen. To ask for what you need. 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We're a very materialistic culture. We're a very image-driven culture. What if that goes away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/we-are-so-defined-by-how-people-see-us-we-re-a-very-materialistic/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Alabama is defined by its people. It's that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ivey/alabama-is-defined-by-its-people-it-s-that-simple/) [Kay Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ivey/) ## 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. 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Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) Kristen Armstrong > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we're defined by what people think we lose the courage to be vulnerable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brené Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think-we-lose-the-courage-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think-we-lose-the-courage-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/bren-brown-280_courage_when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think_1773000.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we're defined by what people think we lose the courage to be vulnerable.” — 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": "When we're defined by what people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think-we-lose-the-courage-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think-we-lose-the-courage-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```