You know, when Brene Brown says “We rise by getting curious about the story,” she’s hitting on a fundamental truth about resilience. It’s not about powering through failure, but about digging into the ‘why’ behind our stumbles. That curiosity is the real engine of growth, turning our falls into our greatest leaps forward.
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Meaning
True resilience and growth don’t come from ignoring our failures, but from investigating the hidden narratives and emotions that caused them.
Explanation
Okay, let me break this down. Most of us, when we face a setback—a project that failed, a tough conversation that went sideways—our instinct is to either shut down or just “get over it.” We think rising strong means putting on a brave face and moving on. But Brene flips that entirely.
She argues that the real gold, the actual rising part, happens when you pause. When you get curious. You have to ask yourself, “What’s the story I’m telling myself about what happened?” And then, crucially, you have to question that story. Is it true? What parts am I leaving out? What was I feeling that I didn’t want to feel? That process of digging, of getting curious about the story behind the surface-level story… that’s where the transformation happens. That’s where you find the lesson, own your part, and genuinely learn. It’s active, it’s messy, and it’s incredibly powerful.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Education (260) |
| Topics | curiosity (46), reflection (15), truth (77) |
| Literary Style | succinct (151) |
| Overall Quote Score | 79 (243) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Brene Brown’s 2015 book, Rising Strong. It’s a core tenet of her research on vulnerability and wholehearted living. You won’t find it misattributed to other authors because the phrasing is so uniquely hers, born from her work in the United States.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brene Brown (257) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Rising Strong (30) |
| 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 rise by getting curious about the story behind the story |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2015; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9780812995824; Last edition. Number of pages: 336. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page, The Rumble section |