Our job is not to deny the story, but to defy the ending… It’s a powerful call to action, not passive acceptance. This is about owning your narrative and having the courage to change its final chapter.
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Meaning
At its heart, this quote is about radical ownership. It’s the idea that while we can’t control every event that happens to us, we hold the ultimate power to write the final meaning of those events.
Explanation
Let me break this down the way I’ve come to understand it through my own work. “Our job is not to deny the story” – that’s the first hurdle, right? So many of us want to pretend the failure, the heartbreak, the setback never happened. We bury it. But Brene says, nope, you have to pick it up. You have to own it.
Then comes the really hard part: “to rumble with it.” This is the messy middle. It’s the uncomfortable, gritty work of asking, “What is this story truly about? What part did I play? What are the lies I’m telling myself?” You wrestle with the raw data of your experience until you find the truth. And that truth, that new understanding, is what gives you the power to “rewrite the ending.” You don’t change the past event, but you fundamentally change what it means for your future. You go from victim to author.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | narrative (2), ownership (20) |
| Literary Style | poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | empowering (174) |
| Overall Quote Score | 80 (256) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Brené Brown’s 2015 book, Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice. You’ll sometimes see it just attributed to Rising Strong, which is the main non-fiction book, but the full, specific source is the “Spiritual Practice” edition. It’s a uniquely American concept, born from her extensive research on vulnerability and courage.
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) |
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 Brené 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?
| Quotation | Our job is not to deny the story, but to defy the ending—to rise strong, recognize our story, and rumble with it until we rewrite the ending |
| 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: Story and Resilience, Approximate Page 18 |