Ann Brashares Quotes

At first, I was scared to show fear because you can never be sure how people will perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, to stand out. Now I'll talk about being beaten up or robbed or making a stupid decision because of a girl or whatever.

I think what I would say to my younger self, and probably to younger, just starting-out writers is that a lot of times you're just afraid to put yourself out there, and it's uncomfortable because it's working up the courage to do something, to push yourself to do those things.

It didn't scare me to be vulnerable because I think that's when you get something great.

I try not to worry about what that's going to look like. If you worry about looking stupid, that's when you look really stupid.

People who are scared don't live life.

Risk means everything from being honest about your faith, to moving, to quitting a job that's paying you a fortune but it's not what's in your heart. Risking things is one of the biggest fears we have.

I've been very much intrigued by and impressed with women. But I've never been intimidated. Even if I make a fool of myself, it's better to have tried.

I'm not afraid of putting myself out there to someone and then them passing on it. At least you could have gotten a 'yes.' So it's worthwhile to have the cojones to do it.

When you put yourself out there, you're putting yourself in the position to make a mistake.

Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching.

I'm not brave at all.

I try to be unafraid of making a fool of myself.

I used to be afraid of pain, didn't take a lot of risks, especially in love. I'm not as afraid anymore. I'm more spontaneous, more likely to say what I think.

You must take the risk to disclose yourself in order to become more real, more human. And even if the price is high.

What I've found - and the older I get, the more I understand this and stand behind it - is, my whole life has been an exploration of telling the truth. It's scary to be truthful, and it's scary to reveal yourself, and I'm very attracted to doing things that scare me.

Courage is the capacity to meet the anxiety which arises as one achieves freedom.

I'm not afraid to look stupid and I'm not afraid to look like I'm trying too hard.

If you're really gonna live, you have to be vulnerable.

I feel like there's something in me that desires to express myself even more and not be so afraid of a solo endeavor.

Hopefully I inspire people just to lose themselves a little bit. That's what I enjoy doing on stage: challenging myself with a new territory, like performing differently, moving differently, singing differently, just let people know that it's okay just to do something that they've never done before.

On the 'Jersey Shore,' people got a glimpse through a keyhole of who I really am. But the world really started to see me on 'Dancing With the Stars.' I am not the best dancer. That was never my strong point. But I wanted to let people know, hey, this kid is risking a lot just to know a different side of him.

I think I'm taking risks and putting myself out there.

I'm not scared to sing songs. I'm not scared to walk out the front door and make a mistake.

So whatever you want to do, just do it... Making a damn fool of yourself is absolutely essential.

The secret of the creative life is how to feel at ease with your own embarrassment. We're all in the dirty laundry business and we're being paid to take risks and look silly. Race car drivers get paid to risk their lives in a more concrete way; we get paid to risk our lives in an emotional way.