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A week ago, I watched a TEDxHouston video with a talk by Dr. Brené Brown. Since then, I have watched every YouTube video with her in it, I can find. I’ve read her website and blog. Yesterday, her two books, “I Thought It Was Just Me” and “The Gifts of Imperfection” arrived. Of course, I am trying to read them both at once. What she has to say about the power of vulnerability so resonates for me. I feel like she has provided the scientific research to support what I have felt intuitively and experienced in my own life.
I want to shout it to the rooftops for all to hear. Embracing and modeling vulnerability could be the thing to set you free. Yes, it is a little freaky.
Brené (notice how I already call her by her first name, like we are pals) – is a storyteller researcher from the University of Houston. She studies “shame and empathy”. In her research she discovered that our level of fear and empathy has a direct correlation to the level/depth of connections with others. Life is about connections. Human beings are wired for connection with each other.
Okay – I still need to read her books – so watch the video and discover for yourself the potential being vulnerable with others has in increasing the depth of your connections/capacity for empathy for each other.
You can’t just say, I’m not going to be afraid anymore. Nor can you say, I’m going to have more empathy for others. What gets you there is your willingness to be vulnerable and share your weaknesses – and have compassion for others weaknesses and brokenness.
It is not easy – and it is a process – and you can do it. If we are going to save this planet, we need to restore our humanity and capacity to empathize with others.
Think of it this way. Every time you decide to risk sharing who you are (be vulnerable with your imperfections) – you take a step away from fear and a step closer to empathy and connection - community.
Let me know how it goes.
