Curiosity is a shaper of empathy… it’s the secret ingredient for getting back up after a fall. This isn’t just feel-good advice; it’s a practical framework for resilience. When we get curious about our own stories and others’, we stop judging and start understanding, which is the bedrock of true strength.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote means that our willingness to ask “why” is what builds our capacity for compassion, and that this process is non-negotiable for overcoming adversity with integrity.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. Most of us, when we get hurt or fail, we go straight to self-protection. We armor up. We blame. We shut down. Brown is saying the exact opposite move is what makes you strong. You have to get curious. You have to lean into the discomfort and ask, “What’s really happening here? What’s that person’s story? What’s my story?”
That curiosity, that act of investigation, is what shapes empathy. It carves out the space for understanding where there was only reaction. And that, my friend, is the critical part. It’s the mechanism. You can’t rise strong from a place of blame and armored-up certainty. You can only truly rise from a place of vulnerable, curious understanding.
Summary
| Category | Education (15) |
|---|---|
| Topics | curiosity (6), empathy (29), growth (12) |
| Style | didactic (20) |
| Mood | optimistic (3) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Brené Brown’s 2015 book, Rising Strong. It’s a key concept in her research on vulnerability and wholehearted living. You won’t find it misattributed to other authors because it’s so uniquely tied to her “rumble” and “reckoning” process that she lays out in that specific work.
| Author | Brene Brown (9) |
|---|---|
| Book | Rising Strong (5) |
Author Bio
Dr Brene Brown is the author of books such as Daring Greatly and The Power of Vulnerability. The TED talk and Netflix production based on her research reached out to millions of audience. She researches effects of courage and vulnerability in shaping people's work and relationships. She leads the Brene Brown Education and Research Group and provides evidence based insights into practical tools to help people train themselves.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Curiosity is a shaper of empathy and a critical part of rising strong |
| Publication Year/Date: 2015; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9780812995824; Last edition. Number of pages: 336. |
| Approximate page, The Rumble section |
Context
In the book, this idea isn’t just a passing thought. It’s part of the “rumble” stage of her Rising Strong process—that messy middle part where you’re in the thick of figuring out your story after a fall. She argues you can’t shortcut this. You have to get curious about your emotions and the narratives you’re telling yourself.
Usage Examples
So, how do you actually use this? Let’s get practical.
- In a team conflict: Instead of deciding a colleague is incompetent, get curious. “I’m curious about what led them to that decision. I wonder what pressures they’re under?” This shifts you from adversary to investigator, opening the door for a real conversation.
- After a personal failure: Instead of “I’m a failure,” get curious. “I’m curious about why this hurts so much. What story am I telling myself about what this means?” This breaks the shame cycle.
- For leaders: When your team misses a goal, lead with curiosity, not accusation. “Let’s get curious about what got in our way.” This builds psychological safety and a culture where people can learn from falls instead of hiding them.
This is gold for coaches, managers, parents, and honestly, anyone in a relationship.
To whom it appeals?
| Audience | leaders (141), students (206), teachers (87), therapists (36) |
|---|---|
This quote can be used in following contexts: leadership programs,empathy workshops,school lessons,therapy trainings
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FAQ
Question: Isn’t curiosity just nosiness?
Answer: Great question. The key difference is intent. Nosiness is about gathering gossip. Brown’s curiosity is an internal, compassionate inquiry aimed at understanding, not judging. It’s a tool for self-awareness and connection.
Question: How is this different from just “being positive”?
Answer: It’s the opposite of slapping a happy face on a problem. Toxic positivity bypasses the hard stuff. Curiosity engages with the hard stuff—the anger, the fear, the shame—and asks it what it has to teach us. It’s gritty, not glittery.
Question: Can you be too empathetic?
Answer: Brown would say that empathy without boundaries isn’t empathy, it’s enmeshment. The curiosity she talks about includes getting curious about your own limits and capacity, which actually protects you from empathy burnout.
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