Brene Brown speaks on The Power of Vulnerability:

“When you ask people about love, they will tell you about heart-ache. When you ask people about belonging, they will tell you their stories of exclusion.”

“Shame is the fear of disconnection.  Is there something about me that if other people know it, I won’t be worthy of connection?”

“There was only one variable that separated the people who have a strong sense of love and belonging and those who really struggle for it.  The people who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe they are worthy of love and belonging.”

“The one thing that keeps us out of connection is our fear that we are not worthy of connection.”

“What they had in common was a sense of courage to tell the story of who they are with their whole heart.  They had the courage to be imperfect.  They had the compassion to be kind to themselves first, and then to others, because we can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.  They had connection as a result of authenticity.  They were willing to let go of who they thought they should be, in order to be who they are.  They fully embraced vulnerability.  They believed that what made them vulnerable, made them beautiful.”

“I know that vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness.  But it appears it’s also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love.”

“We numb vulnerability.  But you cannot selectively numb emotion.  You can’t say here is vulnerability, grief, shame, fear, disappointment.  You can’t numb those feelings without numbing joy, gratitude, happiness.”

“So we need to think about why and how we numb. And it’s not just addiction.  We make everything that is uncertain, certain.  Religion has gone from a believe in faith and mystery, to certainty.  We perfect things.  We pretend our actions don’t impact other people.”

“But there is another way. To let ourselves be seen. To love with our whole hearts, even though there is no guarantee.  To practice gratitude and joy.  To believe that we are enough.”

“You are imperfect.  You are wired for struggle.  But you are worthy of love and belonging.”