--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're willing to be vulnerable, you…" description: "\"When you're willing to be vulnerable, you can surprise yourself at how strong you can be.\" — Jonathan Van Ness" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg" --- # When you're willing to be vulnerable, you can surprise… ![“When you're willing to be vulnerable, you can surprise yourself at how strong you can be.” quote by Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg) > “When you're willing to be vulnerable, you can surprise yourself at how strong you can be.” [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vulnerability allows surprising personal strength to emerge. **In simple terms:** Being vulnerable reveals hidden strength. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability to discover resilience. Themes self‑care vulnerability strength personal growth Mood hopeful empowering Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - therapy - coaching - personal development Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence resilience Questions to Reflect On - What safe spaces foster healthy vulnerability? - How does vulnerability translate to strength? A Different Perspective Vulnerability can be risky without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [Those who are willing to be vulnerable move among mysteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roethke/those-who-are-willing-to-be-vulnerable-move-among-mysteries/) [Theodore Roethke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roethke/) > [When compassion wakes up in us, we find ourselves more willing to become vulnerable, to take the risk of entering the pain of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/when-compassion-wakes-up-in-us-we-find-ourselves-more-willing-to/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [I love when you get to work with people you know because there's so much more trust, and you're much more willing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-love-when-you-get-to-work-with-people-you-know-because-there-s-so/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [I think it's an important lesson in an leadership position to show that you're willing to be vulnerable, you're willing to make mistakes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/i-think-it-s-an-important-lesson-in-an-leadership-position-to-show/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [“He threw her a crooked grin as he removed his shirt completely, revealing a torso that seemed too perfectly muscular and finely honed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/he-threw-her-a-crooked-grin-as-he-removed-his-shirt-completely/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [My best advice would be that you have to be vulnerable with each other. Like, everyone says you have to be honest, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-best-advice-would-be-that-you-have-to-be-vulnerable-with-each/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We know the 65-point policy points, to the extent that they exist, but is Hillary Clinton willing to be vulnerable, is she willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/we-know-the-65-point-policy-points-to-the-extent-that-they-exist-but/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [God is teaching me to really just take small increments towards Him every single day. One thing about Jesus. He's always walking towards us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameis-winston/god-is-teaching-me-to-really-just-take-small-increments-towards-him/) [Jameis Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameis-winston/) > [“I know. I know that you would never take advantage of me like that. But the point is you could.” He paced the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurelin-paige/i-know-i-know-that-you-would-never-take-advantage-of-me-like-that-but/) [Laurelin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurelin-paige/) > [“I am willing to be vulnerable and embrace the natural flow of life rather than trying to direct it to my own course and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rottenberg/i-am-willing-to-be-vulnerable-and-embrace-the-natural-flow-of-life/) [Jonathan Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rottenberg/) > [“I’ve realized the most effective writing and living are done when we are willing to be vulnerable. I think we spend most of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kiesler/i-ve-realized-the-most-effective-writing-and-living-are-done-when-we/) [Katie Kiesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kiesler/) > [What’s the point of opening yourself up to your friends if they don’t notice you in your vulnerable state? The point of it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-earl/what-s-the-point-of-opening-yourself-up-to-your-friends-if-they-don-t/) [Esther Earl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-earl/) > [As a new mother, you're so vulnerable and make mistakes all the time. I guess there's more pressure when you're in the public eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-marais/as-a-new-mother-you-re-so-vulnerable-and-make-mistakes-all-the-time-i/) [Jessica Marais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-marais/) > [It's shocking when someone who is really bad thinks they're really good. It's heartbreaking, because singing is such a vulnerable thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-camp/it-s-shocking-when-someone-who-is-really-bad-thinks-they-re-really/) [Anna Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-camp/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) ## More by Jonathan Van Ness > [Even though I'm a hairdresser and I love doing hair, I feel like I don't look like a groomer. When I think of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/even-though-i-m-a-hairdresser-and-i-love-doing-hair-i-feel-like-i-don/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [If I could only have one grooming tool, it would be floss. I don't want to have broken Cheetos in my teeth. To protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/if-i-could-only-have-one-grooming-tool-it-would-be-floss-i-don-t-want/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [One of my closest friends is a trans man who is incredible. And a lot of my clients are trans women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/one-of-my-closest-friends-is-a-trans-man-who-is-incredible-and-a-lot/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [I think that because I struggled and did get very bullied, that definitely made me learn how to be funny and let things roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-think-that-because-i-struggled-and-did-get-very-bullied-that/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [Typically, you're not gonna find me out at night; I don't go to industry parties. Like, I will go sometimes if I'm invited, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/typically-you-re-not-gonna-find-me-out-at-night-i-don-t-go-to/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [My biggest secret is that I don't over-wash my hair. I wash it twice a week at the most, unless I'm on set every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/my-biggest-secret-is-that-i-don-t-over-wash-my-hair-i-wash-it-twice-a/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [God, I miss TLC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/god-i-miss-tlc/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [If you're feeling a little down, you're never fully dressed without a strong heel. But only if you're depressed - if you need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/if-you-re-feeling-a-little-down-you-re-never-fully-dressed-without-a/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [Coming from a town of 30,000 people on the Mississippi River, having 'Queer Eye' in 2003 through 2007 when I was in high school was really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/coming-from-a-town-of-30-000-people-on-the-mississippi-river-having/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [I think that the ideal of men's physiques in general, gay or straight, is one of the most under-talked-about things ever. Ninety-five percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-think-that-the-ideal-of-men-s-physiques-in-general-gay-or-straight/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [I used to be pretty hard on myself, like, if I didn't like a haircut I did on someone, I would think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-used-to-be-pretty-hard-on-myself-like-if-i-didn-t-like-a-haircut-i/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [I went from being pretty fit to 230 lbs., which isn't, like, the biggest for being 6-feet-tall, but I had been 165 lbs. just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-went-from-being-pretty-fit-to-230-lbs-which-isn-t-like-the-biggest/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [So often, grooming is meant to make you feel better about yourself, and a lot of times, we use it to make ourselves feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/so-often-grooming-is-meant-to-make-you-feel-better-about-yourself-and/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [I remember saying I wanted to be a cosmetologist when I was really young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-remember-saying-i-wanted-to-be-a-cosmetologist-when-i-was-really/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) > [I've worn a 100% polyester cheerleading outfit in stadiums full of people - it is pretty hard to embarrass me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-ve-worn-a-100-polyester-cheerleading-outfit-in-stadiums-full-of/) [Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) [Explore all 98 Jonathan Van Ness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/) ## More How quotes > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/) [John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I've never had a couch that needed to be cleaned or learned how to couch-clean in general. That feels too grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/i-ve-never-had-a-couch-that-needed-to-be-cleaned-or-learned-how-to/) [Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) Browse all 14,172 How quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're willing to be vulnerable, you can surprise yourself at how strong you can be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Van Ness" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you-can-surprise-yourself-at-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "How" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you-can-surprise-yourself-at-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/jonathan-van-ness-6662_how_when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you_2716845.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you're willing to be vulnerable, you can surprise yourself at how strong you can be.” — Jonathan Van Ness", "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": "Jonathan Van Ness", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you're willing to be vulnerable,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you-can-surprise-yourself-at-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/when-you-re-willing-to-be-vulnerable-you-can-surprise-yourself-at-how/#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 } } ] } ```