The Gifts of Imperfection
10th Anniversary Edition
The Irony of Sarcasm
This book came as a recommendation from my wife shortly after she finished reading it. After getting a few chapters deep into the book, I made a sarcastic remark that “the author was a bit of a basket case”, to which my wife’s reply was, “that’s funny, I recommended the book because she reminded me a lot of you”.
Now, before you go judging me on calling the author a “basket case”... keep in mind that this is a book on imperfection. And the author, known for her work on vulnerability, is not shy when it comes to sharing her own imperfections. Of course, I realize that when pointing a finger, three point back at us! So I guess I’m a triple basket case!
Key Insights
- Brene Brown has an amazing talent for connecting the dots.
- The author’s courage to be vulnerable and embrace her imperfections is inspiring to do likewise.
- Serious and yet lighthearted at the same time.
- Provides new definitions, or at least more complete definitions based on exhaustive research for concepts including love, belonging, shame, faith, and many more.
- Leaves the reader wanting to love themselves at least a little more than they did before. At least it did for me.
A more serious reflection
In all seriousness though, Brene Brown is well known for her work on shame and vulnerability. She brings a message of authenticity in her work and despite the serious nature of the topics she researches and discusses, there is something fun about the style in which she brings it to her audience.
This book certainly has a lot of points to reflect on and Brene provides methods and prompts for the reader to “dig deeper” as well as to “integrate” the knowledge. I will admit, she struck a few chords, and I am left motivated to look at how I allow fear of being fully authentic to squash my creativity and suppress my joy. As the author infers, this work is never done, but it's worth continuing to do.
A few of my favorite quotes from the book!
Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
In our technology-crazed world, we’ve confused being communicative with feeling connected.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
It’s as if we’ve divided the world into “those who offer help” and “those who need help.” The truth is that we are both.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
If we really want to live a joyful, connected, and meaningful life, we must talk about things that get in the way.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
Exploring our fears and changing our self-talk are two critical steps in overcoming perfectionism.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
We cannot selectively numb emotions. When we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
Creativity, which is the expression of our originality, helps us stay mindful that what we bring to the world is completely original and cannot be compared.Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?Brené Brown : The Gifts of Imperfection
Get it today on Amazon!
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