I just finished listening to Brene Brown‘s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. I think I want to read it again, for myself. It was that good. I don’t want to miss anything. 6 a.m. is a little early to be listening to an audiobook.

The problem with Audiobooks is that I can’t flip through them to refresh my memory. I can’t pull out any quotations or summarize terribly well.

But, I will say that reading this book caused me to re-examine my own battles with vulnerability and shame. Brown writes of courage. And oh, how I’m growing in courage. I’m trying new things (knitting for starters). I’m meeting new people (hard for me as an introvert). I’m not shrinking away from hard things (taking my toddler and newborn to the grocery store).  I have by no means, however, become courageous all the time. I still hide from difficulty and social awkwardness and the possibility of failure.

Brown‘s work encouraged me to continue to walk in courage, to acknowledge my vulnerability, and to stop hiding from myself and my life. I love how she shares from her research AND her personal life – making the research more palatable, and normalizing my experiences.

Check out her TED Talk on Youtube about vulnerability here.