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A post shared by Elephant Journal (@elephantjournal) on Jul 21, 2019 at 5:00am PDT

I’m not really sure how any of us managed before Brené Brown came along.

I’m mostly kidding—but I have to admit that living in a post-Brené world is far easier, richer, and more inspiring.

There seems to be no end to her wisdom, her insight, and her powerful offerings on the human experience.

Whenever I begin to convince myself that closing off to love and vulnerability and openness is the safest option, she shoves me back into the light.

If you’ve never read Daring Greatly, it’s a thoroughly researched book on what it means to live in courageous wholeheartedness.

I encourage you to let her words pour over you:

1. “Nothing has transformed my life more than realizing that it’s a waste of time to evaluate my worthiness by weighing the reaction of the people in the stands.”

2. “Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.”

3. “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.”

4. “Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. The power that connection holds in our lives was confirmed when the main concern about connection emerged as the fear of disconnection; the fear that something we have done or failed to do, something about who we are or where we come from, has made us unlovable and unworthy of connection.”

5. “Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it’s understanding the necessity of both; it’s engaging. It’s being all in.”

6. “Numb the dark and you numb the light.”

7. “I’ve found what makes children happy doesn’t always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.”

8. “Wholeheartedness. There are many tenets of Wholeheartedness, but at its very core is vulnerability and worthiness; facing uncertainty, exposure, and emotional risks, and knowing that I am enough.”

9. “To love ourselves and support each other in the process of becoming real is perhaps the greatest single act of daring greatly.”

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