One of the things I did when I discovered this huge importance of being vulnerable is very happily moved away from the shame research, because that's such a downer, and people hate that topic. It's not that vulnerability is the upside, but it's better than shame, I guess.
— Brene Brown
Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It's tough to do that when we're terrified about what people might see or think.
Vulnerability is basically uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.
In many ways, September feels like the busiest time of the year: The kids go back to school, work piles up after the summer's dog days, and Thanksgiving is suddenly upon us.
There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.
Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous.
When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.
My husband's a pediatrician, so he and I talk about parenting all the time. You can't raise children who have more shame resilience than you do.
The difficult thing is that vulnerability is the first thing I look for in you and the last thing I'm willing to show you. In you, it's courage and daring. In me, it's weakness.
Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.
I'm like a recovering perfectionist. For me it's one day at a time.
Anonymous comments? You're not in the arena, man. If you can't say it to me in person in front of my kids, don't say it.
You're imperfect, and you're wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.
If you think dealing with issues like worthiness and authenticity and vulnerability are not worthwhile because there are more pressing issues, like the bottom line or attendance or standardized test scores, you are sadly, sadly mistaken. It underpins everything.
I spent a lot of years trying to outrun or outsmart vulnerability by making things certain and definite, black and white, good and bad. My inability to lean into the discomfort of vulnerability limited the fullness of those important experiences that are wrought with uncertainty: Love, belonging, trust, joy, and creativity to name a few.
The moment someone asks you to do something you don't have the time or inclination to do is fraught with vulnerability.
Faith minus vulnerability and mystery equals extremism. If you've got all the answers, then don't call what you do 'faith.'
You cannot talk about race without talking about privilege. And when people start talking about privilege, they get paralyzed by shame.
Maybe stories are just data with a soul.
