Synopsis:
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A timely and important new book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture, from the #1 bestselling author of Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection
“True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown,
Brown argues that we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.” Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.”
What I Thought?
I’m a huge Brené Brown fan. From Daring Greatly to Rising Strong. There was no wonder why I snatched this up to add to my reading list. I’ve been enjoying it one chapter at a time, reading after my morning meditation and that cadence has served me well in absorbing the lessons in each chapter.
I really resonated with the chapters around “People Are Hard to Hate Close Up. Move In., Speak Truth to Bullshit. Be Civil and Strong Back, Soft Front.
What really stuck out at me was when Brené addresses how do we acknowledge what’s going on in the world but still build lives full of joy? How do we not feel guilty for filling our lives with love and joy while so much is going on around us. Just simply acknowledging what is going on, the part we play in it, how we can make it better while also not denying the joy we have in our lives. You’ll need to grab a copy for yourself to see how it’ll speak to you.