--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can be broken, or broken open. That…" description: "\"“You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours. p 146 about dealing with the loss of her mother”\" — Erica Bauermeister" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/erica-bauermeister-11392_mother_you-can-be-broken-or-broken-open-that-ch_1425887.jpg" --- # You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours. p… ![“You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours. p 146 about dealing with the loss of her mother” quote by Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/erica-bauermeister-11392_mother_you-can-be-broken-or-broken-open-that-ch_1425887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/erica-bauermeister-11392_mother_you-can-be-broken-or-broken-open-that-ch_1425887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/erica-bauermeister-11392_mother_you-can-be-broken-or-broken-open-that-ch_1425887.jpg) > ““You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours. p 146 about dealing with the loss of her mother”” [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. You can stay broken or open yourself to healing; the choice is personal. **In simple terms:** Choose healing over staying broken. Key Takeaway Embrace openness to heal. Themes healing choice resilience Mood hopeful introspective Type inspirational advice When to use this quote - grief counseling - therapy - self‑reflection - creative expression Key Concepts Psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What does “broken open” mean to you? - How can you support others in their healing? A Different Perspective Healing may be painful and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [She said, 'You can be broken, or broken open. That choice is yours.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/she-said-you-can-be-broken-or-broken-open-that-choice-is-yours/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [“She’d broken him open and taken his emotional virginity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-d-broken-him-open-and-taken-his-emotional-virginity/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [You think you're being broken but you're really being broken open...and that's where the healing happens, in those broken places...if you'll allow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/you-think-you-re-being-broken-but-you-re-really-being-broken-open-and/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > ['Cause I'm broken when I'm open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seether/cause-i-m-broken-when-i-m-open/) [Seether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seether/) > [“When you are broken open you get to discover for the first time what is inside you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-you-are-broken-open-you-get-to-discover-for-the-first-time-what/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Time is the only comforter for the loss of a mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/time-is-the-only-comforter-for-the-loss-of-a-mother/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [I imagine there is no worse time than the loss of a mother. Your mom was truly one of the most open and giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-imagine-there-is-no-worse-time-than-the-loss-of-a-mother-your-mom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No mother. Two small words, and yet within them lay a bottomless well of pain and loss, a ceaseless mourning for touches that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/no-mother-two-small-words-and-yet-within-them-lay-a-bottomless-well/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [I'm very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a terribly attractive woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/i-m-very-sorry-for-your-loss-your-mother-was-a-terribly-attractive/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [“Their hats are identical, and I wonder how it must be to go through hell with someone and have each other to lean on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-hutchison/their-hats-are-identical-and-i-wonder-how-it-must-be-to-go-through/) [Dot Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-hutchison/) > [“My distant but always a close friend, the loss of a mother is always painful for her children, I am beside you in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-rosa/my-distant-but-always-a-close-friend-the-loss-of-a-mother-is-always/) Nuno Rosa ## 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 Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can be broken, or broken open. 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