You know that feeling when you try to push down the hard stuff? We can’t numb hard feelings without numbing the other emotions too. It’s a truth that hits home for anyone trying to navigate life, especially in parenting. It’s all or nothing when it comes to our emotional world.
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Meaning
You can’t selectively shut off pain, fear, or sadness without also diminishing your capacity for joy, love, and connection.
Explanation
Here’s the thing I’ve seen time and again, both in my own life and with clients. Our emotional system isn’t a series of separate dials we can adjust individually. It’s one master volume knob. When you turn down the pain, you turn down everything. You think you’re just managing the anxiety or the grief, but you wake up one day and realize you’re also just… going through the motions. The laughter doesn’t feel as deep, the small moments of beauty don’t hit you the same way. You become a spectator in your own life. It’s a brutal but honest trade-off.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Emotion (177) |
| Topics | emotional awareness (4), numbing (7), vulnerability (47) |
| Literary Style | psychological (31) |
| Emotion / Mood | honest (52), reflective (382), truthful (22) |
| Overall Quote Score | 86 (262) |
Origin & Factcheck
This wisdom comes straight from the research of Dr. Brené Brown. It’s a central theme in her 2013 audiobook, “The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting.” You might see similar sentiments floating around, but this specific phrasing is hers, rooted in her decades of studying vulnerability, courage, and shame.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brene Brown (257) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting: Raising Children with Courage, Compassion, and Connection (35) |
| 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 | We can’t numb hard feelings without numbing the other emotions too |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2013; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-1611801053; Last edition: 1st Edition (Sounds True, 2013). Number of pages: 160. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 2013 edition, Chapter: Wholehearted Feeling |