In the last couple weeks, Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Seriously. 12 times. Although most people simply refer to: You know, that book about vulnerability.
Several conversations were with coaching clients, which makes sense as vulnerability and wholeheartedness are often topics.
But there have also been random exchanges. Today the woman in line at People’s Food Co-Op asked if I’d read the book. Yesterday the barista at Sweetwaters, my favorite cafe, mentioned she was reading it.
In all 12 instances, the topic was initiated by someone else. I have to wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something.
I love Brené’s rock-solid research combined with her at-the-kitchen-table storytelling. Her Ted Talks on vulnerability and shame are among my all-time favorites.
All this impromptu talk about vulnerability has me thinking about what makes me vulnerable.
I am vulnerable when I …
- Click Publish on a blog post
- Share feelings about my father’s passing
- Set goals and then suffer setbacks
- Let go of past aspirations
- Ask for help
- Love with all my heart
- Create
- Acknowledge the hurt of a friend’s distance
- Launched a new course
- Step into a new chapter of reinvention
- Recognize I want more
- Stopped getting a corporate paycheck
- Admit “I don’t know”
- Embrace good enough is perfection
- Realize I’m in my own way
- Accept I don’t have control
- Choose authenticity over people pleasing
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Owning even this short list is an act of courage, an embrace of vulnerability.
I agree with Brené: This is the path to engagement and meaningful connection.
Will you engage and connect with me? What makes you vulnerable?
