In a 1973 interview with Bill Moyers, Dr. Maya Angelou said, "You are only free when you realize you belong no place—you belong every place—no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great." But to our author, Brené Brown’s ears, it sounded wrong, just WRONG! Belonging nowhere? What kind of a world would that be? Just a bunch of lonely people together, isn’t it? For over two decades, the quote would anger Brené. After all, it’s essential...
Brené's Painful Quest of Fitting In
Meet a young Brené from 1969, a Texan moving to New Orleans – a wonderful city suffocated by racism. Her pre-K and kindergarten were too complicated but she was too young to know or understand what was happening. As strange as it would sound, her ‘name’ was an invitation to troubles! Cause Brené's name on the kindergarten homeroom list was Casandra Brené Brown. Casandra – a popular black kid name. So you know! She wasn’t exactly a priority guest for...
Learn the art of true belonging
In 1987, Brené met Steve. He saw right through her – the real Brené, and guess what? He liked her the way she liked him! They bonded over their shared experiences of loneliness and being outsiders. Seven years later, they got married. But hey, love is messy, and theirs was no exception. Things got tough. Brené even confessed to a therapist that she wasn't sure their marriage would last. The therapist's response was a wake-up call: "He likes you way...
Courage and Trust Are Your Compass in the Wilderness
So! Let’s make it clear. Brené’s true belonging is a superpower – a belief in yourself so strong that you can share your true colors with the world, and find connection even when you stand out in the crowd. But unlike others, this superpower doesn't come with a cape. It takes a willingness to step into the wilderness – a vast, open space, where you're free to explore who you are, without worrying about judgment. It's a place where you...
The loneliness epidemic!
Would you like to live in a world where you only hear your own voice echoed back? Sounds boring and unintelligible? Well, what if we tell you that you’re already living in one? We’re talking in an encrypted language, we know, so allow us to explain: By surrounding ourselves with unchallenging opinions, we've accidentally caused a loneliness epidemic! But first of, what exactly is loneliness in this context? It's not just about being physically alone. As neuroscientist John Cacioppo explains,...
Loneliness thrives on isolation and anger, so focus on real-life experiences to build connections and channelize the anger
While scrolling through social media, you ever felt like people are just ranting? Throwing their wacky opinions out with zero concern for accountability, truth, and identity? Yeah, us too! And it’s not just the people. News outlets bombard us with negativity, and political debates sound like screaming matches. In such a scenario, it's easy to get sucked into this vortex of hatred and anger, where everyone on the "other side" becomes a nameless, faceless enemy. But there's a way out...
Chapter 8
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Summary
There you have it! Braving the Wilderness is your calling to embrace your authentic self, to stand tall in your uniqueness while reaching out to connect with others. By cultivating courage, trust, and genuine connections, we can navigate the wilderness of loneliness and discover true belonging – not in spite of our differences, but because of them. And just like that, we create a world where we can all feel seen, heard, and valued.
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About the Author
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.
Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.
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