If we are brave enough often enough we Meaning Factcheck Usage

If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall. It’s a simple, almost brutal truth about putting yourself out there. The more you dare, the more you risk a stumble, but that’s precisely where the real growth happens.

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Table of Contents

Meaning

Vulnerability isn’t a weakness; it’s a courageous act with predictable, and sometimes painful, consequences. The very act of being brave guarantees that you will, at some point, fail.

Explanation

Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times, in my own life and with clients. We have this idea that bravery is this superheroic, flawless act. But Brown is telling us it’s the opposite. It’s a law of nature. Think of it like gravity. If you jump, you will eventually come down. If you are brave—if you pitch the big idea, start the vulnerable conversation, put your art into the world—you *will* fall. It’s not a possibility; it’s a certainty. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s the whole point. The falling is the data. It’s the feedback loop that teaches you how to rise stronger.

Quote Summary

Context	Attributes
Original Language	English (3668)
Category	Emotion (177)
Topics	risk (54), vulnerability (47)
Literary Style	succinct (151)
Emotion / Mood	realistic (354)
Overall Quote Score	76 (131)

Origin & Factcheck

This is straight from Brené Brown’s 2017 book, Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice. It’s a core tenet of her research on vulnerability and resilience. You won’t find it misattributed to other authors because it’s so uniquely her voice and her field of study.

Attribution Summary

Context	Attributes
Author	Brene Brown (257)
Source Type	Book (4032)
Source/Book Name	Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice (39)
Origin Timeperiod	21st Century (1892)
Original Language	English (3668)
Authenticity	Verified (4032)

Where is this quotation located?

Quotation	If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall; this is the physics of vulnerability
Book Details	Publication Year: 2017; ISBN: Unknown (based on her talk and workbook materials); Length: ~60 pages (lecture adaptation, Sounds True audio transcript).
Where is it?	Section: The Physics of Vulnerability, Approximate Page 21

Context

In the book, she frames this not as a depressing reality, but as a spiritual one. The “falling” isn’t the end of the story. It’s the necessary middle part of the “Rising Strong” process—the reckoning, the rumble, the revolution. It’s the moment you have to get curious about your story, rather than ignoring it or numbing the pain.

Usage Examples

Honestly, I use this as a reframe all the time. When a team member is terrified of a launch because it might fail, I say, “According to the physics of vulnerability, a fall is just proof we were brave. Let’s focus on what we learn from the landing.” It’s for leaders, creators, anyone in a relationship… anyone who’s ever been scared to try because they’re scared to fail. It normalizes the struggle.

To whom it appeals?

Context	Attributes
Theme	Concept (265)
Audiences	leaders (2619), mentors (105), students (3111), teachers (1125)
Usage Context/Scenario	coaching lessons (2), motivational videos (53), personal reflections (26), resilience discussions (1), team talks (7)

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FAQ

Question: So is she saying we should just expect to fail?

Answer: Not at all. She’s saying we should expect that being brave *includes* failure. It’s part of the process, not a sign the process is broken.

Question: How is this different from just being reckless?

Answer: Great question. Recklessness is acting without thought. This is about *conscious* courage. It’s a calculated risk for something that truly matters, with the full awareness that it might not work out.

Question: What if I’m tired of falling?

Answer: I get that, I really do. The key isn’t to stop being brave; it’s to get better at the “rising” part. That’s what the rest of her book is all about—building the resilience to get back up.