Brené Brown is hands down one of my favorite writers/speakers. She is real and raw and chases authenticity with vigor. Braving the Wilderness is a book (as the title says) focused on true belonging while having the courage to also stand alone. It was written around the time of the 2016 election when Americans realized division like never before….this division has continued and maybe even worsened over the years. The COVID crisis created feelings of loneliness and isolation for many and further tested our feeling of belonging and connectedness. I started this book years ago and picked it up again during the shut down. And wow did the words on the page really speak to me!!
What did I learn?
There is a primal need in all of us for belonging and for connectedness. This connectedness is not satisfied with social media but requires face-to-face interactions. And, as it turns out, true belonging is more about belonging to and accepting oneself versus fitting in with our group of friends, co-workers, or a political party. This type of belonging requires hard work, courage and vulnerability. It requires us to step into our pain rather than spread it around. It requires us to accept ourselves and really like ourselves. We have to listen with the intent to understand rather than the intent to respond. We have to have the hard conversations and try to find mutual understanding or common ground as a starting place. It is not about winning or being right. Being brave means standing in your own truth and belonging to yourself first and foremost….being your true authentic self versus denying that self to meet the needs of those around you.
Brené Brown’s research is some of the most practical and relatable research out there. If you want to get down and dirty with your feelings, heal your hurts, and become better in your relationships and in this world, check out her work.
