Friday, January 14, 2011

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability

"Brene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity."

2 comments:

Unknown said...

LOVED this clip, went out and bought her book and read it in one night. Since it's her book about people who are a bit too driven and self judging - I might have a problem. What do you think? ;)

john and steph said...

I too appreciated this clip and have found myself an hour and a half on your site (for which I am grateful because between a crazy dog that won't stop barking and a daughter who cannot stop hacking up a lung, I would be going insane waiting for the imaginary sheep to drone me to sleep).
With all that said, I agree that being vulnerable is a mandatory state to live in if one is to have a fullness of joy because that is the only way we can allow ourselves to be loved and in turn to love. What a great statement about being numb. We cannot selectively be numb and if we choose to be numb about some things then we in turn also are choosing to be numb about everything else. I have never made that connection. I have quoted that great cliché in second Nephi that we must have opposition in all things..., I never had until tonight had a scholarly resource to quantify that statement with results she had found through her many years of research.
I paused the video and reflected on another comment that the speaker made regarding those who are willing to be vulnerable are those who have self worth. I reviewed a talk on atonement a few weeks ago that stated our worth is infinite because the God of the Universe declared it to be so and therefore our mission in this life is to believe in that reality, and I guess, to strive to validate that reality till we can for instance sincerely say thank you to a complement or also look outside ourselves to graciously give a complement.
I enjoyed many of your favorite quotes and thought to add mine from Henry David Thoreau where he wrote: “That in which we persist in doing becomes easier, not because the nature of the task has changed but because our ability to do has increase.” This quote has shivering consequences as I reflect on all of the poor decisions I make and how this quote equally applies to those.
I love you guys, John D.