Brené Brown - Choosing Courage Over Comfort

If you know of the University of Houston Professor/Researcher on Shame and Vulnerability, Brené Brown, you are well aware of her groundbreaking work in all things most folks do not want to talk about: namely, shame, courage, vulnerability and fear. But it is all these things that truly make us human, and as humans, we are survivors in life and "need" to be brave to face all that life throws at us on a daily basis. Her best-selling books (i.e. Daring Greatly, The Gifts of Imperfection, I Thought it Was Just Me, But it Isn't, and her most recent, Dare to Lead) are very interesting reads, and I am 'bravely' encouraging you to pick up one of these gems and dig in with your heart and soul. You may learn a few things, and possibly will think differently after reading some of her work(s) (I have). She is really that good and her work is amazingly compelling for all to nourish in our own life's journey.

If you don't want to read at this time, but have 20 minutes to spare, try her TED talks first. They are fabulous and will introduce you to the world of "daring greatly" with shame and vulnerability at the forefront. She is funny, witty and a great-story teller. And isn't just that? We all have stories to tell and want to share them even if that means we stand to be vulnerable in that sharing. Click here for her first TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame/transcript?language=en

Tonight, my husband and I watched her Netflix Special that came out last Friday entitled: "The Call to Courage." We were once again enthralled with her humor and empathy in discussing what it takes to choose courage over comfort in a culture defined by scarcity, fear and uncertainty. It's having the courage, day in and day out, to show up when you can't control the outcome. It's "The Man in the Arena" thought process here, and it is Brené Brown's favorite quote by Teddy Roosevelt that truly sums up all the shame and vulnerability she speaks of so eloquently.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasm, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt - April 10, 1910 from the Citizen in a Republic Speech.

BSoleille! The bright side of vulnerability, because vulnerability provides courage, and courage provides bravery...and we can all use bravery!

Terri

Let's try to soar like an eagle with our own bravery...