INSPIRATION THIS WEEK: BRENE BROWN VIDEO

https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o

This is one of the top TED talks to this day. This is the best intro into one of my favorite people, Brene Brown. I can only go over a snippet of the wealth of knowledge and enlightenment this woman has to offer. Click the link above to learn more about her journey into vulnerability. This is essentially my "bible" for my therapy, so let's take a peak at some key points...

THEME OF THE WEEK: THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY

Vulnerability...what a dirty word! "Dana don't make me go there!" Ha, I hear ya, and if you watch the video, you know Brene hears you too. Another reason why I love her, she's *real*.  As I just said, to put her research and findings into one newsletter is just impossible, but here are a few of my take-a-ways from Brene's famous TED talk on vulnerability:

*Humans are hard wired for connection- when we step away from the daily minutia and take a look at the bigger picture, we are seeking connection and purpose.

*Shame is about the fear of disconnection- Shame thrives in secrecy, so as Brene says, "the less you talk about it, the more you have it". It wants to keep us in the shadows and break our connection with others.

*In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen- yikes! What does that look like? This is the part where I encourage a deep dive into the Brene Brown resource library on how to be vulnerable. But put simple...come in to the light!

*Whole hearted living vs. Hustling for worthiness- the only difference between people who have a sense of worthiness and lean into love and belonging and those who are hustling for worthiness is the whole hearted believe they're worthy. You don't need to achieve anything, you just have to know and believe.

*What is whole hearted living?- The courage to be imperfect, the compassion to be kind to themselves first, connection through authenticity (let go of who you think you should be to be who you are), believe what makes them vulnerable made them beautiful. 

*We numb vulnerability- we are the most in debt, obese, addicted, and medicated. We need to put down the phones, pills, distractions and lean in to these hardships with joy and gratitude.

*We can't selectively numb, we numb all feelings- when you try to block out fear, shame, disappointment, you also block out connection, love, belonging....there is no filter.

*How to embrace vulnerability- Let ourselves be seen, practice joy and gratitude in moments of shame and vulnerability, love with our whole hearts tell ourselves that "I am enough"

CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: EMBRACE VULNERABILITY

Take a moment to evaluate and take stock...what are you numbing out? What do you shy away from for fear that you aren't good enough? How much are you chasing a version who you think you should be versus who you truly are? Seek some opportunity to lean into these scary and vulnerable moments with joy and gratitude. And repeat after me until you believe it...YOU ARE ENOUGH!