I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
Brené Brown
To Find Happiness
Topic: Joy & Happiness
I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. Additionally, she serves as a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Brown's academic roles are extensions of her deeper mission to explore the themes of courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Her research is not just data and theories; it's an invitation to engage with the very elements that make us human.
Brown has spent two decades contributing to our understanding of emotional and social dynamics through her research and writing. She is the author of five books that have risen to the top of the New York Times bestseller list: "The Gifts of Imperfection," "Daring Greatly," "Rising Strong," "Braving the Wilderness," and "Dare to Lead." These works offer pragmatic insights into the nature of human connection. They encourage the reader to embrace their own vulnerabilities, pointing out that it's often in these spaces of uncertainty and risk that we discover our capacity for love and belonging.
Beyond the page, Brown expands her reach through various platforms. Her TED talk, "The Power of Vulnerability," has been viewed more than 50 million times worldwide. She also hosts two podcasts, "Unlocking Us" and "Dare to Lead," providing a space for ongoing discussions about the complexities of the human experience. In 2019, she broke new ground with her Netflix special, "The Call to Courage," becoming the first researcher to present a filmed lecture on the streaming service. Through all these avenues, Brown underscores the need for a heart-centered approach to life, one that makes room for both the challenges and the beauty of our shared human journey.
Brown, Brené. "I Don't Have to Chase Extraordinary Moments to Find Happiness: It's Right in Front of Me." Interview by Gretchen Rubin. Psychology Today, 15 July 2011, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-happiness-project/201107/i-dont-have-chase-extraordinary-moments-find-happiness-its-right.
Brené Brown
Theme: Happiness and Well-being
About This Brené Brown Quotation [Commentary]
Brené Brown’s insight, “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude,” reflects her understanding of happiness as something found in the present. Rather than pursuing grand experiences, Brown emphasizes that fulfillment lies in everyday moments. Her approach encourages a shift in perspective: to cultivate happiness, we must notice and value what is already around us.
The habit of “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” which Brown admits to, highlights the human tendency to anticipate disappointment, limiting our capacity for contentment. Brown views vulnerability as essential to happiness, challenging her and others to soften into joy rather than retreating into guarded expectation. This perspective reveals that embracing happiness requires courage—the courage to stay open to life as it unfolds.
Brown’s happiness mantra, “Don’t squander these moments waiting for that special joyful moment. It’s right here. Right now,” is a call to presence and gratitude. Valuing the present aligns with her emphasis on mindfulness, reinforcing that joy isn’t merely about external events but can be cultivated within, moment by moment. Brown offers a practical path to well-being, rooted in gratitude and a willingness to find joy in life’s simplicity.
Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Interview With Brené Brown [Excerpted Passages*]
Resources
Related Quotes
Copyright © 2017 – 2024 LuminaryQuotes.com About Us