--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you numb your pain you also numb…" description: "\"When you numb your pain you also numb your joy.\" — Brené Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg" --- # When you numb your pain you also numb your joy. ![“When you numb your pain you also numb your joy.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg) > “When you numb your pain you also numb your joy.” [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. Numbing pain also dulls joy, indicating that emotional suppression reduces overall experience. **In simple terms:** Numbing pain dulls joy too. Key Takeaway Allow emotions fully. Themes psychology well‑being emotion Mood empathetic thoughtful Type self‑help reflective When to use this quote - self‑care - relationship building - creative work Key Concepts mindfulness therapy Questions to Reflect On - How does feeling pain affect joy? - What practices help balance pain and joy? A Different Perspective May ignore protective aspects of numbness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numb/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [ When we numb \[hard feelings\], we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-numb-hard-feelings-we-numb-joy-we-numb-gratitude-we-numb/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“But then I realized that in losing the pain I had lost a lot of other things as well. Emotion isn’t one sided, Alyx.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-peach/but-then-i-realized-that-in-losing-the-pain-i-had-lost-a-lot-of-other/) [Hanna Peach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-peach/) > [When theres so much pain I become numb, the pain is pretty much gone... But when I think bout you theres that tight grasp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-correa/when-theres-so-much-pain-i-become-numb-the-pain-is-pretty-much-gone/) Gabriela Correa > [Its easier to run, replacing this pain with something numb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/its-easier-to-run-replacing-this-pain-with-something-numb/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [I just let the pain take over, allowing it to numb the pain of being left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/i-just-let-the-pain-take-over-allowing-it-to-numb-the-pain-of-being/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [I can't go home alone again I need someone to numb the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-lo/i-can-t-go-home-alone-again-i-need-someone-to-numb-the-pain/) [Tove Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-lo/) > [Suppressing your hurts is like not tending to a bullet wound. Eventually you will bleed out. Dont numb pain, express it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/suppressing-your-hurts-is-like-not-tending-to-a-bullet-wound/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I was poisoning myself with alcohol and medicating myself. I was trying to numb things. I was trying not to feel things, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-was-poisoning-myself-with-alcohol-and-medicating-myself-i-was/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [In between the wounds that just wont heal,and the pain I'm to numb to feel…im ok..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/in-between-the-wounds-that-just-wont-heal-and-the-pain-i-m-to-numb-to/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [“There was no bang, no light at the end of a tunnel. I didn't feel pain or even numb, and Sirius was right, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-xiao-wang/there-was-no-bang-no-light-at-the-end-of-a-tunnel-i-didn-t-feel-pain/) Daniel Xiao Wang > [When will the hell called life come to a merciful end? will I slowly fade or will it be quick? full of pain or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-kennedy/when-will-the-hell-called-life-come-to-a-merciful-end-will-i-slowly/) [Scot Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-kennedy/) > [It's easier to run, replacing this pain with something numb. It's so much easier to go than face all this pain here all alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/it-s-easier-to-run-replacing-this-pain-with-something-numb-it-s-so/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [“Anything done to excess can become a means to numb the pain of our unresolved past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/anything-done-to-excess-can-become-a-means-to-numb-the-pain-of-our/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [You wish that one day, you'll see him cry. That one day he'll know how he killed u inside. But you now that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/you-wish-that-one-day-you-ll-see-him-cry-that-one-day-he-ll-know-how/) [Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/) > [The hurts we hold on to are like dams that block the free flow of our energy. We can only suppress, mask, or numb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-hurts-we-hold-on-to-are-like-dams-that-block-the-free-flow-of-our/) [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 Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you numb your pain you also numb your joy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brené Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-your-joy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Joy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-your-joy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/bren-brown-280_joy_when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-yo_150222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you numb your pain you also numb your joy.” — 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 you numb your pain you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-your-joy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-numb-your-pain-you-also-numb-your-joy/#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 } } ] } ```