--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we spend our lives waiting until…" description: "\"“When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/bren-brown-280_human-experience_when-we-spend-our-lives-waiting-until-we_1708642.jpg" --- # When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or… ![“When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can…” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/bren-brown-280_human-experience_when-we-spend-our-lives-waiting-until-we_1708642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/bren-brown-280_human-experience_when-we-spend-our-lives-waiting-until-we_1708642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/bren-brown-280_human-experience_when-we-spend-our-lives-waiting-until-we_1708642.jpg) > ““When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can make. Perfect and bulletproof are seductive, but they don’t exist in the human experience.”” [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. Waiting for perfection delays action, causing lost relationships, missed chances, and wasted time, while denying unique contributions. **In simple terms:** Perfection delays action and loses opportunities. Key Takeaway Act now, imperfectly. Themes vulnerability relationships opportunity time self‑acceptance Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational personal development When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - creative projects - health goals Key Concepts growth mindset authenticity risk self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you stopped waiting for perfection? - How can you value imperfect progress? A Different Perspective Perfection is unattainable; striving for it can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bulletproof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulletproof/) [Bulletproof Seductive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulletproof-seductive-1225533/) [Bulletproof Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulletproof-walk-1225535/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Make Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-perfect/) [Perfect Bulletproof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-bulletproof-1225534/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Precious time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Perfect and bulletproof are seductive, but they don’t exist in the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfect-and-bulletproof-are-seductive-but-they-don-t-exist-in-the/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-spend-our-lives-waiting-until-we-re-perfect-or-bulletproof/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I've never done anything for the common consensus. I do things to please me. If you are happy with something yourself, you become bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-ve-never-done-anything-for-the-common-consensus-i-do-things-to/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“Dye a specsuit any color other than the original red, and any stalker would put down five hundred for it without batting an eyelash”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arkady-and-boris-strugatsky/dye-a-specsuit-any-color-other-than-the-original-red-and-any-stalker/) [Arkady and Boris Strugatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arkady-and-boris-strugatsky/) > [Shoot me down. But, remember I'm not bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/shoot-me-down-but-remember-i-m-not-bulletproof/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [Ideas are bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/ideas-are-bulletproof/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Mousse was a Labrador retriever, which is a large enthusiastic bulletproof species of dog made entirely from synthetic materials. This is the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/mousse-was-a-labrador-retriever-which-is-a-large-enthusiastic/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Limb by limb and tooth by tooth, tearing up inside of you, every day, every hour, just wish that you...were bulletproof?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/limb-by-limb-and-tooth-by-tooth-tearing-up-inside-of-you-every-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Body armor. Four thousand pounds of body armor. And missile-proof glass? Nice. What had happened to good old-fashioned bulletproof?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/body-armor-four-thousand-pounds-of-body-armor-and-missile-proof-glass/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [75%-90% of the murders that occur in black and Latino communities are solvable. Everybody knows who did it or somebody knows. The reason nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/75-90-of-the-murders-that-occur-in-black-and-latino-communities-are/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [“Limb by limb and tooth by tooth, Tearing up inside of me, Every day, every hour, just wish that I... Was bulletproof”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/limb-by-limb-and-tooth-by-tooth-tearing-up-inside-of-me-every-day/) [Radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/) > [You might think I'm bulletproof, but I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/you-might-think-i-m-bulletproof-but-i-m-not/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [ The interesting thing about a song like 'Bulletproof Heart' - it was \[originally\] called 'Trans Am' - the interesting thing about the amalgamation of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-way/the-interesting-thing-about-a-song-like-bulletproof-heart-it-was/) [Mikey Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-way/) > [With me, you never know what is going to happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-ivanisevic/with-me-you-never-know-what-is-going-to-happen/) [Goran Ivanisevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-ivanisevic/) > [I take a step back, and let you go. I told you I'm not bulletproof; Now you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-take-a-step-back-and-let-you-go-i-told-you-i-m-not-bulletproof-now/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) ## 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 Bulletproof quotes > [I take a step back, and let you go. I told you I'm not bulletproof; Now you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-take-a-step-back-and-let-you-go-i-told-you-i-m-not-bulletproof-now/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [With me, you never know what is going to happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-ivanisevic/with-me-you-never-know-what-is-going-to-happen/) [Goran Ivanisevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-ivanisevic/) > [ The interesting thing about a song like 'Bulletproof Heart' - it was \[originally\] called 'Trans Am' - the interesting thing about the amalgamation of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-way/the-interesting-thing-about-a-song-like-bulletproof-heart-it-was/) [Mikey Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-way/) > [You might think I'm bulletproof, but I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/you-might-think-i-m-bulletproof-but-i-m-not/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“Limb by limb and tooth by tooth, Tearing up inside of me, Every day, every hour, just wish that I... Was bulletproof”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/limb-by-limb-and-tooth-by-tooth-tearing-up-inside-of-me-every-day/) [Radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/) > [75%-90% of the murders that occur in black and Latino communities are solvable. Everybody knows who did it or somebody knows. The reason nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/75-90-of-the-murders-that-occur-in-black-and-latino-communities-are/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [Body armor. Four thousand pounds of body armor. And missile-proof glass? Nice. What had happened to good old-fashioned bulletproof?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/body-armor-four-thousand-pounds-of-body-armor-and-missile-proof-glass/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [Limb by limb and tooth by tooth, tearing up inside of you, every day, every hour, just wish that you...were bulletproof?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/limb-by-limb-and-tooth-by-tooth-tearing-up-inside-of-you-every-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mousse was a Labrador retriever, which is a large enthusiastic bulletproof species of dog made entirely from synthetic materials. This is the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/mousse-was-a-labrador-retriever-which-is-a-large-enthusiastic/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Ideas are bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/ideas-are-bulletproof/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Shoot me down. But, remember I'm not bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/shoot-me-down-but-remember-i-m-not-bulletproof/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [“Dye a specsuit any color other than the original red, and any stalker would put down five hundred for it without batting an eyelash”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arkady-and-boris-strugatsky/dye-a-specsuit-any-color-other-than-the-original-red-and-any-stalker/) [Arkady and Boris Strugatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arkady-and-boris-strugatsky/) > [I've never done anything for the common consensus. I do things to please me. If you are happy with something yourself, you become bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-ve-never-done-anything-for-the-common-consensus-i-do-things-to/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The quotes are often poignant or funny (one man before the firing squad requests a bulletproof vest) and often don't register as much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-messinger/the-quotes-are-often-poignant-or-funny-one-man-before-the-firing/) [Jonathan Messinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-messinger/) > [This time baby, I'll be, bulletproof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-roux/this-time-baby-i-ll-be-bulletproof/) [La Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-roux/) [Browse all 79 Bulletproof quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulletproof/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can make. 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