Below is a thought provoking Ted Talk by Brene Brown called The Power of Vulnerability.  Brene talks with a sparkle in her eye and exudes a contagious enthusiasm as she explores this difficult subject.  I find vulnerability really easy to understand in theory and much harder to practice in reality.

Here are some notes and quotes that hit me as I listened:

  • Shame–the fear of disconnection; is there something about me that if other people know it or see it I won’t be worthy of connection?
  • Shame is universal… “we all have it. The only people who don’t experience shame have no capacity for human empathy or connection.  No one wants to talk about it and the less you talk about it, the more you have it.”
  • We have to allow ourselves to be really seen to have connection.
  • People with a strong sense of love and belonging believe they are worth a strong sense of loving and belonging.
  • Vulnerability requires the courage to be imperfect.
  • You can’t selectively numb your emotions–numbing negative emotions, numbs positive emotions.
  • We can’t treat others with compassion if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.
  • We have to let go of who we think we should be for who we are.
  • We like to make the uncertain, certain.
  • Blame is a way to discharge pain and discomfort.