BlogHer Book Club Review:
I have just finished reading Daring Greatly for the BlogHer Book Club and feel encouraged to do what the author suggests, except that doing “vulnerable” is a hard thing to do. Have you tried it? If so, you already know, it’s a tricky proposition. You may remember Dr. Brene Brown’s viral Youtube sensation of her TedX Houston talk in which she discussed wholeheartedness.
Brene has since written this book in which she expands on her journey and her research since that talk two years ago. She encourages readers to lean into their vulnerability. Who can be distracted by a message that asks you to show up for your own life?
Well I am usually distracted by books that call on studies within the narrative to make their points which this book does. But I did not get lost in Brown’s over-arching message that you cannot be mislead by the shame you sometimes feel when you are afraid that the people you either love, like or admire will somehow be disappointed in you.
I was struck by Brown’s statement that “shame is the fear of disconnection – the fear that we’re unlovable and don’t belong – makes it easy to see why so many people in midlife overfocus on their children’s lives, work sixty hours a week, or turn to affairs, addiction, and disengagement. We start to unravel. The expectations and messages that fuel shame keep us from fully realizing who we are as people.â€
Truth is, this is my takeaway: own your own story since this way you get to write the ending. Isn’t that the coolest advice.
I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed herein are my own.
Photo credit: garnerbarbera
boomrwiz says
Yes Sienna
So happy for your feedback. I think you will enjoy this book. You will be able to cross-share with the advice you give as well. because the two of you have a different presentation style, you will be able to reach people that Brown cannot. Um Hum. Definitely check it out. And thanks for the compliment. I often feel I am in a tunnel with my readership.
Sienna Jae Fein says
This is an excellent review, and it certainly entices me to read the book. Someone has said all great ideas are simple: shame as a fear of disconnection is simple — and also profound, of course.
It would be good for me to stop experiencing things as shame when all that’s needed are a few moments of embarrassment followed by changing / correcting my course.
Thanks for posting this, Patricia!