Worry is a barrier to joy… it’s true. That feeling of constant anxiety literally blocks you from experiencing the good stuff in your life right now. It’s like a wall you build yourself, and Brene Brown nailed it in her work on wholehearted living.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
At its core, this quote means that you can’t be fully present for joy and gratitude if your mind is occupied by worry. It’s an either/or situation.
Explanation
Let me break this down because it’s something I see all the time. Think of your mental and emotional energy as a finite resource. When you’re worrying—you know, that spinning, looping, “what if” kind of thinking—you’re pouring all of that energy into a future that hasn’t happened yet. A future you can’t control. And here’s the kicker: you’re physically and emotionally absent from your present life. So when a moment of joy pops up, or you have something to be grateful for, you miss it. You’re just not there to receive it. The worry has built a barrier, and you’re on the wrong side of it. It’s not that the joy isn’t there. It’s that you’re too preoccupied to let it in.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Wisdom (385) |
| Topics | worry (7) |
| Literary Style | didactic (370) |
| Overall Quote Score | 62 (21) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is a direct quote from Brene Brown’s 2010 book, The Gifts of Imperfection. It’s a key concept in her research on wholehearted living. You sometimes see similar sentiments floating around misattributed to other self-help figures, but this one is definitively from Brown’s work in the United States.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brene Brown (257) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Gifts of Imperfection (46) |
| 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
Official Website |Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube |
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Worry is a barrier to joy and gratitude |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2010; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781592858491; Last edition. Number of pages. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 2010 Hazelden edition |