Owning our story and loving ourselves… sounds simple, right? But it’s arguably the toughest, most courageous work we’ll ever do. It’s about radical self-acceptance, and it completely changes the game.
Share Image Quote:
Table of Contents
Meaning
This quote is about the profound courage it takes to fully accept your entire life narrative—the good, the bad, the messy—and to extend compassion to yourself throughout that journey.
Explanation
Let me break this down because we often get it twisted. “Owning our story” isn’t about crafting a perfect, shiny LinkedIn bio. It’s the opposite. It’s about stopping the hustle to hide the parts you’re ashamed of—the failure, the heartbreak, the insecurity. It’s looking at that resume gap, that bad decision, that moment of fear, and saying, “Yep, that’s part of my journey too.”
And the “loving ourselves through that process” part? That’s the real work. Our instinct is to beat ourselves up for our past. This is about switching from self-criticism to self-compassion. It’s treating yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a dear friend. That shift, from judge to ally, is where the real bravery lives. It’s not a one-time event; it’s a daily practice.
Quote Summary
Reading Level40
Aesthetic Score88
Origin & Factcheck
This wisdom comes straight from the research of Dr. Brené Brown. It’s a central theme in her 2012 book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, which was published in the United States. You won’t find it correctly attributed to anyone else.
Attribution Summary
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
Official Website |Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube |
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2012; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781592407330; Last edition. Number of pages: 287. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 2012 Gotham edition |
Context
In Daring Greatly, this idea is the bedrock of what Brown calls “Wholeheartedness.” She found that people who live with a strong sense of love and belonging are those who had the courage to be imperfect, to be vulnerable. They didn’t achieve that by hiding their stories; they achieved it by embracing them. This quote is the actionable core of that finding.
Usage Examples
So how does this play out in real life? I see it everywhere.
- For a leader: Instead of pretending to have all the answers, they might say to their team, “Look, I don’t have the full map here either, and that’s okay. Let’s figure this out together.” That’s owning the story of not being the infallible expert.
- For someone healing: Someone working through a past trauma stops defining themselves as “broken” and starts seeing themselves as a “survivor.” That’s a powerful narrative shift.
- For a creative: An artist shares work they’re not 100% sure about, embracing the vulnerability of possible criticism instead of hiding the work until it’s “perfect.” That’s loving themselves through the creative process.
It’s for anyone who’s ever felt the weight of their own expectations.
To whom it appeals?
Share This Quote Image & Motivate
Motivation Score94
Popularity Score96
Shareability Score94
FAQ
Question: Does “owning your story” mean you have to publicly share all your mistakes?
Answer: Absolutely not. This is an internal, private practice first. It’s about your own self-talk. Sharing is a separate choice that comes later, if at all. The ownership happens in your own heart and mind.
Question: How is this “brave”? It seems passive.
Answer: It’s the furthest thing from passive. Our culture rewards performance and perfection. Choosing to step off that treadmill and say, “I am enough, as I am, with my entire history,” is a radical act of defiance. It takes guts to go against that grain.
Question: What if my story is full of things I’m genuinely ashamed of?
Answer: That’s exactly the point. The goal isn’t to be proud of every single chapter. It’s to stop letting shame define you. It’s integrating those chapters into your larger life narrative so they don’t hold power over you anymore. You acknowledge them, you learn from them, and you practice self-compassion for the person who lived through them.
Similar Quotes
Owning our story can be hard but… it’s nothing compared to the exhausting work of running from it. This is the core of true resilience, and honestly, it’s a game-changer…
We have to be brave enough to own our stories… it’s not just about bouncing back, it’s about forging a stronger self from the ashes of our failures. This is…
Owning our worthiness is the act of courage that starts everything. It’s a powerful idea, right? It means that before any real change, any big leap, any meaningful connection can…
Owning our stories is the opposite of hiding them; it’s the key that unlocks their power. When you stop running from your past and start integrating it, you transform your…
We can’t change the story until we own it. It’s a simple but profound truth about personal growth and leadership. You have to stop blaming and start taking responsibility for…
