Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead by Brene Brown

As we’ve discussed previously, a book doesn’t have to be labelled as feminist for it to be relevant to the feminist cause. This is one of those books. I’d been meaning to read it for a long time and am glad that I finally got a chance to.The fact is that it has content that anyone could stand to hear. When we cannot dare greatly as feminists, our movement becomes stagnant and people start to think our work is done or as done as it’s gonna get.

Vulnerability is uncomfortable. It sucks for everyone. So does shame. Shame and vulnerability are universal, they aren’t greater or worse based on one’s gender. I found it validating to read that shame and vulnerability effect men and women differently only because of the messages that are hurled at us. We react different because the message is different, that’s it.

No matter what the message is, we have to get back in there and fight the good fight. Sometimes we lose and it takes guts and vulnerability to get us back in there and daring greatly again. As was mentioned in All the Rebel Women, a big win after a long struggle can discourage us from getting back in there as much as any loss. Everyone gets tired after being in the arena a while. We can rotate through and share the burden, but we can’t give up.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead isn’t about feminism, though. It’s about vulnerability and connection. It’s about peope, all people. It’s about the ways we are hurting ourselves and each other and how we can do that less and connect more. It’s also about allowing ourselves to be imperfect without feeling ashamed of it. I’m pretty sure most people could use a little more of that. Do yourself the favor and pick it up.

For my highlights and notes (which focus on but are not exclusive to how it relates to the feminism) check me out on Kindle.

Up next is Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women Are Transforming the Middle East, get at your local library or my astore!