Our capacity to be wholehearted can never exceed our willingness to be brokenhearted.
Vulnerability is a key. Think of the last time you did something you thought was really brave. Vulnerability is not weakness. Vulnerability is courage. In fact, vulnerability is our most accurate measure of courage. Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.
Practice being uncomfortable. Being vulnerable has made me a lot stronger and a lot tougher.
One of the things the whole-hearted share in common is hopefulness. Hopefulness, though, is born of adversity.
It’s all about connection. Connection is why we are here. We give meaning and purpose to our lot. Shame, is at its heart, fear of being disconnected, fear of being unworthy of connection.
Everyone has a shame. The only people that don’t have shame are those that have no capacity for empathy or compassion.
Put shame in a petri dish and it needs three things to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence and judgment. Give it a dose of empathy and it cannot survive. The antidote to shame is empathy. The two most powerful words: Me too.
Brené Brown
University of Houston
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html
December 9, 2013 at 7:55 pm
People who have no shame have no capacity for connection OR correction!