Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect
Program Titles
- Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do
- The Inspirational Leader: Why Courage, Authenticity, and Calm Matter
- The Power of Vulnerability
- Great Expectations: What Leaders and Managers Need to Understand about Goals
- Only Constant is Change: Developing Courage, Compassion and Connection in Overstressed and Anxious Organizations
- The Hustle for Worthiness: Exploring the Power of Love, Belonging, and Being Enough
- The Art of Acceptance: Why Boundaries, Accountability and Compassion Come First
- The Pedagogy of Resilience: Strategies for Cultivating Hope, Gratitude, and Perseverance
- The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting
Brené Brown, Ph.D., is a professor and vulnerability researcher of Social Work.
Vulnerability is at the center of many thoughts, feelings, and behaviors,
her research topics cover a broad range of emotions and experiences, including shame, courage, and authenticity.
“In our culture, vulnerability has become synonymous with
weakness.
We associate vulnerability with emotions like fear, shame,
and scarcity; emotions that we don’t want to discuss, even when they
profoundly affect every aspect of our lives.
To reduce our feelings of vulnerability, we wake up every morning,
put on our game face, and rarely take it off – even at home. We use
invulnerability as a shield to protect us from uncomfortable emotions
and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt. But invulnerability has a
price.
Vulnerability is indeed at the core of difficult emotions, but it is
also the birthplace of authenticity, courage, joy, love, belonging,
accountability, innovation, inspiration, creativity, and spirituality.
When we avoid or shut down vulnerability, we lose access to the
experiences that give purpose and meaning to our lives.
If we want to change the way we live, love, parent, teach, lead organizations, and build communities, we have to start with a conversation about vulnerability – this is where our story begins.
Brené spent the first five years of her decade-long study focusing on shame and fear, and is now using that work to explore a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness. She poses the questions:
How do we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness?
How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection
that we need to recognize that we are enough – that we are worthy of love, belonging, and joy?
Brené has won numerous teaching awards, including the College’s Outstanding Faculty Award. She was named Behavioral Health Scholar-in-Residence at the Council on Alcohol and Drugs.
Brené’s work has been featured on PBS, NPR, and the Oprah and Friends Radio Network, and her articles have appeared in Self magazine, Elle magazine, and many national newspapers.
She is also a frequent guest on radio shows across the US and she has given two TEDx talks on her vulnerability research.
Recently, Women Magazine named her one of “The 50 Most Influential Women.”
Books by Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW
- The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
- I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power
- Daring Greatly
Book Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW for your Event!