vulnerabilty

Whether I introduce Brené Brown as a cherished and trusted friend (of which she most certainly is) or as an incredibly insightful and authentic author, researcher, and public speaker (all of which are equally true) I would say the exact same thing; that her work and message is really really important.

It seems I'm not the only one who thinks so. If you are already acquainted with Brené then I am not telling you anything you don't already know. If you have yet discover what she is sharing, then today is your lucky day. Not only is Brené's message available in her books and DVD but she can also be found on YouTube of all cool things. I invite you to listen in to one of her TED talks. Yes, I said TED talks. I told you I'm not the only one who thinks she's amazing! She spoke in both Houston and Kansas City on vulnerability and WOW!

Just listen to what Brené says about vulnerability:

"In our culture, vulnerability has become synonymous with weakness and imperfect now means inadequate. We associate vulnerability and imperfection 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 and imperfection - this is where our story begins."

- Brené Brown

With our celebration of imperfection this month, we are courageously telling our authentic stories. I'm so proud of us.

Today, lets share our vulnerable sides. We would love to see your images of tenderness, imperfection, and the poetry of vulnerability.

We are delighted to be giving away 2 two book/dvd sets (including the new book The Gifts of Imperfection, another gem, I thought It Was Just Me, and the awesome Hustle for Worthiness DVD) all from the amazing Brené Brown. All you have to do is leave a comment here between now and Saturday midnight EST to be included in the random drawing.

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Congrats to Jet and GwynnieB ; winners of this fab giveaway from Brene Brown!!

Comments

[wendy]

wow, that sounds amazing!
vulnerability is indeed a scary place when you first go there... I don't like it much, myself! but I know I need to embrace it.

[Trittoli]

Great! I'll be in.
If you know your vulnerability, you can reduce it and you can feel more power inside, i think.
ehm yes...you need to work hard for this.

[giftsofthejourney (Elizabeth Harper)]

I went to a very vulnerable place in the link below and was given a gift in the followup that changed me forever.


http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/someone-in-evansville-indiana-has-the-ability-to-change-my-life/

[Marcie]

I think sometimes expressing our vulnerabilities and then learning that we're not the only ones..is the most healing practice of all:
http://visionandverb.com/2010/09/days-of-awe/

[Kat]

Beautiful words. Thank you both, Tracey and Brene, I so identify with what you wrote. I have experienced the same thing in my personal journey.
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/08/light-and-dark-places.html
(If I have linked this post here before, I apologize. It just so perfectly matches your topic today!)

[nic]

wow.. thanks for sharing this and posting a link in there.. I really really enjoyed watching the talk and also felt much better after hearing this ..

[alison]

i am thankful for people so beautifully brilliant like brene brown for showing us the way to 'us'.

[And Miles To Go...]

Although I am just beginning a personal journey to finding myself, I do find myself very vulnerable in the little I have shared, and yes, it is a bit scary for me too. I have recently purchased Brene's new book, and am looking forward to reading it.

[marina]

thank you, Tracey, for this beautiful post and all the incredibly inspiring links!
I love how the photo you have chosen illustrates vulnerability, how it celebrates how delicate the petals are and how they open up to light, to life, despite, or better, while being delicate and vulnerable.
here's a link to a photo which makes me think of how I sometimes react when I feel vulnerable:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mar_s/5094077773/

thank you also for the chance to participate in this great giveaway!!!

[CDScott]

My motto has been "Flawed is the new Perfect" for some time now. It works for me to let go of the "conquer all or else" approach. Thanks for introducing Brene Brown to me.

[Angie Willis]

Wonderful quotation. Reminds me of an image consultant I went to once. She made a lot of "putting on your armour" each morning before you go out into the world. The advice was always to wear some sort of choker necklace to "protect your throat"! I think I'm more inclined to go with Rene's inspirational idea that vulnerability, like many other emotions, is part of our makeup and constantly trying to control or suppress these emotions is actually suppressing the authentic "Youness" your post yesterday referred to.

[Stacie]

I learned to embrace vulnerability from my dog, Sadie. When she rolls over on her back, showing her belly, her vulnerability makes me involuntarily move closer to her...and I wondered if it was the same with me. So now, I "show my underbelly" so to speak, and I find that people react in such a way that enables them to get closer and more protective of you then if you "put on your armour" each morning as referenced by Angie above.

[Tina]

Yes, vulnerability is behind my 'happy' mask, especially in these days while I trudge through the mud of sad, huge changes.
Only yesterday I uploaded a photo' that amazingly fits Brene's theme like a glove.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenhillphotography/5103538722/

[Jill F]

Every single day when I come here, I either learn something or leave with something to think about all day. Thanks for that.

[janet]

Lovely post, great blog and beautiful work. I think this image I took expresses vulnerability.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25101045@N05/4902790358/

[Lillian]

My very favorite sweet tenderness between my two little ones - they do it so often and I was so glad to have caught it on camera:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lillianclaire/4907395782/

[camerashymomma]

yes! i'm knee deep in brene's words right now. they are so powerful and true. this quote of hers couldn't be more true and applicable to my everyday life right now. "When we avoid or shut down vulnerability, we lose access to the experiences that give purpose and meaning to our lives."

i recently wrote about her word choice, wholehearted, with a photograph of mine depicting vulnerability. http://meredithwinn.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/wholehearted/

[jaimie]

thank you for these inspiring words. xo

[pam]

I love near KC, wish I had been able to attend. Its gratifying to hear reasons and answers for some of our everyday struggles.

[Barbi]

Love all your posts but this one has me really thinking. As one who wears her heart on her sleeve and usually told not to and feeling not so "right", it hit me recently that my game face is on way too much and needs to be put away. I will be checking out all the links and the authors books. Thanks!

[jenifer]

I just ordered her newest book and look forward to diving in.........

[Beth]

This post is particularly timely for me as I struggle with the balance of protecting myself and letting others in. 3 years ago, I lost my fiance to cancer. Since then, I've been fighting people off for fear they will leave me, hurt me, lie to me, and utlimately die, leaving me alone again... Every day is a struggle. But I'm lucky to always be surrounded by love.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14632491@N07/2880308161/in/set-72157625216792994/

[Katherine]

The moment I became a mother I have been struggling to find myself..to be me - so that my beautiful daughters can grow up to say that they really knew their mother - no secrets, no lies, just truth. I think that is the only real way to be truly happy. Thank you for sharing and letting me share! xo

[amy z]

Here's to a sea change in our culture, and a return to vulnerability and imperfectness and real, honest-to-goodness LIVING. I work hard every day to teach my daughter that not only is it okay to be imperfect, it's actually preferred. The messiness of a life well-lived and truly experienced...what could be better?

[Meghan]

I love this from Brene: "perfection doesn't keep us from getting hurt, it keeps us from being seen."

[AppleTree]

I am adding her talks to the ever-growing list of TED talks I need to review. Thank you.

[melissa]

after two weeks of beautiful creative collaborations and honest, courageous storytelling, i am deep in vulnerability hangover. thank you for this exquisite offering, immensely timely for me personally. tracey and brené together makes me wild with gratitude...gracias.

[Leslie @ {Tiny Wings}]

I've been trying to channel my inner Brené this week, when dealing with my sweet 10 year old daughter -- who is already dealing with body image & societies expectations & perceived imperfections. *sigh* I need to learn to embrace my own imperfections better . . . and help my daughter realize that she's perfect "As Is". It feels like a battle of epic proportions, and has me feeling extremely vulnerable and tender at the moment.

[Suki]

Sounds awesome! I love her talks. Embracing vulnerability is so important in a society where people shut down more and more.

[Jennifer]

Two weeks ago yesterday, my 76-year-old mother-in-law fell and broke her femur. Even in her pain, she managed to call 911 and called me to come over and stay with her while paramedics arrived. I had to bring my two-year-old son, who adores his granny, with me, and he heard her cries of agony as they put her on the stretcher. The situation has been heartbreaking, to say the least.

Though they were vulnerable, they found comfort in each other:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cardboardsea/5076468844/

[Robert]

Well I'm a little perplexed about the vulnerability part because in order to be vunerable you have to be thinking about what everybody else is thinking and Frankly My Dear...I don't Give A Damn ;) And I don't mean that in a frank, mean way...but all my life I have been different from my friends and family...because I REALLY don't care others think about ME. Don't get me wrong...I care loads about others and if they are happy, etc. But I have never made my decesions based on what others think...just don't. My husband often asks where this came from and I don't know what to tell him. I have never been afraid of going places, doing new things and/or meeting new people. While others in my familly live in fear of driving to new places, being late because people may look at them as they arrive, etc. Then they get irritated with me cause I'm like...who cares...let them look at me all they want. Kinda like the old saying...take a picture, it lasts longers. And if people want to gossip about me...have at it...I'm like...they'll talk about me today and someone else tomorrow...so glad I could oblige them and give them some entertainment. Life is just too darn short for me to give my power to others. I'm like the girl it Friend Green Tomatoes...Towanda ;)

[Patricia Davidson]

Wonderful blog post and image! Thanks for sharing the link! Awesome talk on vulnerability!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pddesigns/5066400894/lightbox/

Thanks for the opportunity to win :)

[Ellen]

So why are we so afraid to show our vulnerability? I shot this earlier this week, I don't know if it fits for anyone else or not, but it does for me! :)
http://flic.kr/p/8LtViF

[damiec]

I have followed through one of these links, and will do the rest later this evening. She is marvelous - thank you for sharing.

There is a vulnerability in my act of posting this image to my flickr page. It's quite imperfect, but I have come to accept that I am pleased with it nonetheless.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/5104570365/

[playcrane]

Here's an example of my being vulnerable.
http://playcrane.blogspot.com/2010/10/reflections-on-play-therapy-conference.html

I included a link to a post I did for Tracey's I AM ENOUGH collaborative.

[Bettina]

WOW... just what I needed this morning! What a powerful post!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/5056094494/

[Paula]

The courage to be vulnerable is marvelous to behold.

[Michelle]

brene's works speak to my soul. I listen to her podcasts often and i am searching for courage in my own imperfection

[Melissa M.]

Great post!

[Ellen]

Oksy, I'm feeling particularly vulnerable lately and I'm NOT liking it - maybe Renee can help.

[Leslie]

I just discovered Brene' Brown's work a couple of weeks ago and find it inspiring and amazing!

[Corinna]

Aaaahhh... Vulnerability. I have embarked, in the past 10 days, on an experiment in feeling vulnerable and not running from it by launching my own photoblog for the first time. The emotions raised by just putting it out there and allowing some of my own thoughts and dreams to be exposed are almost as interesting to me as the process of taking the photos or doing the writing. But even though it's scary as hell, it's also thrilling in a I'm-in-a-roller-coaster-about-to-crest-the-top-of-a-hill-and-take-the-plunge kind of way. I feel more alive because of it.

www.birdwannawhistle.com

[Breanne]

Brene always inspires me on her blog! I'd love to win.

Also, this image is BEAUTIFUL.

[Melissa Jacks]

It's been a long year for me...full of feeling extremely vulnerable. So scary. But also full of huge amounts of growth. Thanks for this post. It inspired me to share a little...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mollymelly/5105330104/

[WorthIt!]

Thanks for sharing such a thought provoking post - you've got my wheels turning.

I'm sharing an image that, for me, captures the peace that can be found in vulnerability.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5104781251/

[jag]

This self-portrait is from a couple of years ago, but it shares one of my paths to authenticity and vulnerability:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/3061925501/in/set-72157615270935624/

I absolutely agree that Brené Brown's work is vital. I am drawn to it and would be THRILLED and honoured to receive one of her books...
xox

[Jet Harrington]

Being a mother has opened my heart and soul to tenderness, vulnerability, and yes, imperfection, in ways I never imagined. I pictured myself with more children, always wanted more, but have had to accept - and along the way have learned to embrace - that I will only have the one child. What a treasure she is.

http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2010-09-25.html

[Jess]

I've learned so much in keeping an eye open for "imperfection" this month.

http://the-old-nichols-farm.blogspot.com/2010/10/vulnerability.html

[jessica]

Oh my i would love to win this. come on randomizer...make it my day!

[kristin]

this has been a most tender imperfect week.
new unsettled waters of motherhood.
feeling raw.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/5103114200/