--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She said, 'You can be broken, or broken…" description: "\"She said, 'You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours.'\" — Erica Bauermeister" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/erica-bauermeister-11392_broken_she-said-you-can-be-broken-or-broken-ope_2395944.jpg" --- # She said, 'You can be broken, or broken open. That choice… ![“She said, 'You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours.'” quote by Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/erica-bauermeister-11392_broken_she-said-you-can-be-broken-or-broken-ope_2395944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/erica-bauermeister-11392_broken_she-said-you-can-be-broken-or-broken-ope_2395944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/erica-bauermeister-11392_broken_she-said-you-can-be-broken-or-broken-ope_2395944.jpg) > “She said, 'You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours.'” [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One can either stay broken or open up, turning pain into growth; the choice lies within. **In simple terms:** Choose to open up. Key Takeaway Transform pain into growth. Themes resilience choice growth Mood hopeful empowering Type inspirational therapeutic When to use this quote - recovering from trauma - creative expression - personal development - coaching sessions Key Concepts psychology self‑empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What does “broken open” mean to you? - How can you safely embrace vulnerability? A Different Perspective Opening up can feel vulnerable and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ## Related quotes > [“You know," Marion said, "I met a woman once when I was a teenager. I knew she had gone through a lot but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/you-know-marion-said-i-met-a-woman-once-when-i-was-a-teenager-i-knew/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours. p 146 about dealing with the loss of her mother”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/you-can-be-broken-or-broken-open-that-choice-is-yours-p-146-about/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“His expression changed, and he took a step back. He looked away. "When you said it was broken , you were just being-" "No!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/his-expression-changed-and-he-took-a-step-back-he-looked-away-when/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [“It's an illusion to think that a choice is open to us, unless we are open to that choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spurling/it-s-an-illusion-to-think-that-a-choice-is-open-to-us-unless-we-are/) John Spurling > [Morality pertains only to the sphere of man's free will - only to those actions which are open to his choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/morality-pertains-only-to-the-sphere-of-man-s-free-will-only-to-those/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We are broken open, or we willfully shed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/we-are-broken-open-or-we-willfully-shed/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [“Fix me," I commanded him. "This thing, what I've done - there's something wrong with me, Noah. Fix it." Noah's expression broke my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/fix-me-i-commanded-him-this-thing-what-i-ve-done-there-s-something-2/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [“Don’t look at me like that,” I said. “I’m not broken because I don’t want the same thing as everyone else. And, no, you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/don-t-look-at-me-like-that-i-said-i-m-not-broken-because-i-don-t-want/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [“I wish I hadn’t spoken,” I finally said. I knew as soon as I’d said it that I’d broken the exiguous spell between us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-wish-i-hadn-t-spoken-i-finally-said-i-knew-as-soon-as-i-d-said-it/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“I love you," he said. "Every broken piece of you, with every broken piece of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/i-love-you-he-said-every-broken-piece-of-you-with-every-broken-piece/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [I almost said, you're not broken, you're just going through something. But i couldn't. She knew. There was something terribly wrong with her, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-almost-said-you-re-not-broken-you-re-just-going-through-something/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“Are you still mad because i broke your phone" Jace said. "Because you broke my wrist, so i'd said we're even" "It was sprained,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/are-you-still-mad-because-i-broke-your-phone-jace-said-because-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I keep myself locked as a box when it matters, and broken open when it doesn't matter at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-keep-myself-locked-as-a-box-when-it-matters-and-broken-open-when-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“after life has broken you open, perhaps you may create art”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-geddes/after-life-has-broken-you-open-perhaps-you-may-create-art/) [john j geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-geddes/) > [“Being broken open by the storm is your only hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/being-broken-open-by-the-storm-is-your-only-hope/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## More by Erica Bauermeister > [“When a couple came to class together, it meant something else entirely - food as a solution, a diversion, or, occasionally, a playground.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/when-a-couple-came-to-class-together-it-meant-something-else-entirely/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“I think love is kind of like those waves out there," she said. "You ride one in to the beach, and it's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/i-think-love-is-kind-of-like-those-waves-out-there-she-said-you-ride/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“She became a frame for the picture that was her son and daughter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/she-became-a-frame-for-the-picture-that-was-her-son-and-daughter/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“They said - Adults need to have fun so children will want to grow up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/they-said-adults-need-to-have-fun-so-children-will-want-to-grow-up/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“You know," Marion said, "I met a woman once when I was a teenager. I knew she had gone through a lot but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/you-know-marion-said-i-met-a-woman-once-when-i-was-a-teenager-i-knew/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“I used to know a sculptor," Isabella said, nodding. "He always said that if you looked hard enough, you could see where each person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/i-used-to-know-a-sculptor-isabella-said-nodding-he-always-said-that/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“Caroline had felt more comfortable thinking of beauty as something separate from her, like a scarf or a coat you could check before going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/caroline-had-felt-more-comfortable-thinking-of-beauty-as-something/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“Lillian sometimes wondered why psychologists focused so much on a couple’s life in their bedroom. You could learn everything about a couple just watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/lillian-sometimes-wondered-why-psychologists-focused-so-much-on-a/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“i think love is like..waves.. you ride one in to the beach, and it's the most amazing thing you've ever felt. but at some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/i-think-love-is-like-waves-you-ride-one-in-to-the-beach-and-it-s-the/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [TIME WENT ON, life with the children unfolding in its own ecosystem, small plastic toys seeming to grow up from the carpet like mushrooms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/time-went-on-life-with-the-children-unfolding-in-its-own-ecosystem/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“I walked across a bridge that doesn't exist. And after that, being scared just didn't seem so important anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/i-walked-across-a-bridge-that-doesn-t-exist-and-after-that-being/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [Each person's heart breaks in it's own way. Every cure will be different, but there are some things we all need. Before anything else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/each-person-s-heart-breaks-in-it-s-own-way-every-cure-will-be/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“She found herself wondering at what point in her life she had ceased to be Gulliver and had become the strings holding him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/she-found-herself-wondering-at-what-point-in-her-life-she-had-ceased/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“Sometimes, niña, our greatest gifts grow from what we are not given.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/sometimes-ni-a-our-greatest-gifts-grow-from-what-we-are-not-given/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“You know, Ian,” Antonia commented, “my father always said a person needs a reason to leave and a reason to go. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/you-know-ian-antonia-commented-my-father-always-said-a-person-needs-a/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) [Explore all 60 Erica Bauermeister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) ## More Broken quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [Don't fix what's not broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/don-t-fix-what-s-not-broken/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Rome, believe me, my friend, is like its own Monte Testaceo, Merelya marvellous mass of broken and castaway wine-pots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/rome-believe-me-my-friend-is-like-its-own-monte-testaceo-merelya/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [Its funny how someone breaks your heart but you still love them with all those broken pieces..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-funny-how-someone-breaks-your-heart-but-you-still-love-them-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we don't get what we want, there's a legitimate grieving, and then the spiritual journey truly begins, because not getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/when-we-don-t-get-what-we-want-there-s-a-legitimate-grieving-and-then/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) Browse all 5,851 Broken quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "She said, 'You can be broken, or broken open. 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