What do you think when you hear the word vulnerable? Most people automatically associate it with negative experiences and emotions. Even the dictionary lists its synonyms as susceptible, powerless and helpless. What most people fail to realize is that although it is a feeling of discomfort, it could also be a warning sign of success, a symptom of bravery and the key to a breakthrough. Vulnerability is the feeling that tends to over come us when we are truly pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones, facing our fears and doing the things that will force us to grow as a person. So, here are three quotes for next time this bittersweet feeling starts to creep up and convince you to back down. For these quotes can serve as reminders that it is better to embrace your fears and find out just how much you are capable of.

1. “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” —Unknown

Your comfort zone is not a bad thing. In fact, a certain level of comfort is a necessity to healthy living. However, every once in awhile it is a good idea to take a step outside of that zone and attempt something unfamiliar and challenge yourself with a new experience. This sounds intimidating and nerve-wracking. That is because it should be. If you do not feel at least a little vulnerable, you are not outside of your comfort zone. But, the best part about all of this is that every time you take a step outside your comfort zone, it grows a little larger.

2. “The fears we don’t face become our limits.” —Robin Sharma

The truth of the matter is, if we do not confront our fears, they will always be our fears. They do not dissolve over time or dissipate with wishful thinking. If we let them go unchallenged for long enough, they will back us into a corner. The bright side is, we have the choice to face them and eventually eliminate them. How do you know you’re on the path to this? Vulnerability is a good sign that you are headed in the right direction.

3. “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable.” —Brene Brown

We could easily spend our lives nestled inside of our comfort zone, hidden away from all of our fears and doubts, but I imagine a life like this would be just as thrilling as riding a roller coaster with no ups or downs. Thanks to the recent hit, “Inside Out,” we know there is no happiness without sadness, good can’t exist without the bad and you can’t have one extreme without the other. Even if we could find the better part of life without trudging through the worse, we would never be able to fully appreciate how valuable it is to experience things such as love or joy. So, just know that when vulnerability starts to seep in, it's because you're about to do something that matters.