Brené Brown · 傷つく心の力

So I'll start with this: a couple years ago, an event planner called me because I was going to do a speaking event. She said, "I've been reading your information, and I have a couple of questions for you." I thought, "Oh, this will be fine." She said, "I'm a little confused about how you describe yourself on your website." I said, "Okay." And she said, "You describe yourself as a researcher and a storyteller." And I said, "Yes." She said, "How does that work?" I study vulnerability. I study shame, fear, and our struggle for worthiness. But I was surprised that the #1 thing that came up was connection — our ability to connect. After six years, I had a breakdown. Because I had found that vulnerability — the willingness to say "I love you" first, to do something where there are no guarantees — is the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging, and love. The people who had a strong sense of love and belonging simply believed they were worthy of love. They had the courage to be imperfect. They let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they were. They didn't hold back. They opened up. They loved whole-heartedly, even though there was no guarantee. We cannot selectively numb out emotion. When we try to numb out the dark emotions, we also numb joy, gratitude, happiness. Here's what I've learned: we are worthy of love and belonging. Let go of who you think you should be, and embrace who you are.