Our spirituality is not about bypassing hard emotions—it’s a profound call to transform them. This idea, from Brené Brown, flips the script on what it means to be spiritual. It’s not about rising above our pain, but meeting it with courage and compassion.
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Meaning
The core message here is that real spiritual growth happens in the mess, not by avoiding it. It’s about alchemy—turning our raw, difficult feelings into something of value.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen so many people, myself included, fall into the trap of “spiritual bypassing.” You know, using meditation or positive affirmations as a way to essentially check out from anger, grief, or shame. You pretend it’s not there. But what Brené is saying—and this has been a game-changer in my own work—is that the *real* work is to sit with that discomfort. To hold that hard emotion with love, as if you’re comforting a friend. To bring grace to your own failings. And to face the truth of the situation, even when it’s ugly. That’s where the transformation happens. It’s not a quick fix; it’s a deep, integrative process.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Spiritual (229) |
| Topics | emotion general (105), transformation (15) |
| Literary Style | philosophical (434) |
| Emotion / Mood | compassionate (35) |
| Overall Quote Score | 80 (256) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Brené Brown’s 2017 book, Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice. It’s a US publication that really digs into the mechanics of how we get back up after a fall. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around unattributed, but its home is definitely in that book, where she frames the entire “rising strong” process as a spiritual one.
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 spirituality is not about bypassing hard emotions—it’s about transforming them with love, grace, and truth |
| 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: Emotional Transformation, Approximate Page 54 |