Oh boy - Daring Greatly by Brene Brown arrived yesterday and I started reading it. I feel profoundly affected by this book, and stayed up reading until after midnight - couldn't put it down. I cried a lot and felt it is a book that I have needed to read my whole life.

She describes that when we take risks (eg: meeting new people) we feel uncertain and exposed - vulnerable. So, to fight those feelings, we strive to appear 'perfect.' Shame plays an important part in this. If we listen to the 'shaming' thoughts we all have, we start to believe that we are 'not good enough.' In fact, we may have been receiving messages that we are 'not good enough' - both from ourselves, and maybe from others - for a long time. And we start to believe them. And so we hide parts of our true selves that we feel are 'not good enough.'

She challenges the myth that feeling vulnerable is a weakness - it is in fact a strength. For when we shut ourselves off from revealing our true selves, we grow distanced from the things that bring purpose and meaning to our lives - true connection with others, for example. She invites us to be courageous - to show up and let our (true) selves 'be seen' - even when there are no guarantees. Gosh, crying again now - what's going on??

I am still only part way through, but I think this is an important book for me - one of life's anxiety prone, people-pleasers with perfectionist tendencies. I'll post more about what the book is telling me, and what I am going to do with it - but for now, I'm just reading, absorbing...(and crying a lot!) Feeling quite raw, but somewhat cleansed too. Underdog - if you are reading this. I'm so grateful to have found Brene Brown, and am interested to know how her work has changed your approach and perspective - or anyone else who has read her books/seen her TED talks.

GAL at the charity bookstore yesterday for me, and languishing in bed with the ipad at the moment. I'm cooking lunch for the parents today and catching up on washing at the 'launderette of Mum and Dad.' Aqua aerobics tonight for me. Have a good day all xx

Last edited by Toots; 04/19/15 08:44 AM.
T 13 M 7
Me 48 H 46
SS 15
BD 7.14 PA
D final 5.16 (H filed)

We receive & we lose, and must try to achieve gratitude & embrace with whole hearts whatever of life that remains after the losses - Dubus