Men, Women & Worthiness: The Experience of Shame and the Power of Being Enough

About this book

What does it mean to engage with the world from a place of worthiness? How do we make the long walk from "What will people think" to "I am enough!" Dr. Brene Brown has spent more than 10 years researching these questions, and her discoveries always lead back to one critical finding: Shame resilience. "If we want to cultivate more courage, joy, and love in our lives, we have to understand how and why shame keeps us afraid and small." On Men, Women, and Worthiness, Dr. Brown shows how liberating it is when we stop pursuing unattainable ideals of perfection-and start embracing who we truly are. In this rich exploration of the themes she introduces in her popular TED talks, Dr. Brown explores: The differences and similarities between the experience of shame for men and women Guilt vs. shame-why one is a useful force for growth, while the other holds us back The four elements of shame resilience-identifying triggers, critical awareness, reaching out, and speaking honestly We often try to deal with shame by numbing ourselves to it-but in doing so, we deaden our experience of the joys of life as well. With the trademark warmth, candor, and humor that has made her such a celebrated speaker, Brene Brown offers us an alternative to running away from the "unworthy" parts of ourselves. Here is a bold invitation to let go of your beliefs of who you should be-so you can recognize the full potential of the person you are. Whether you are a man, woman, or child, every one of us has the irreducible need for love and belonging, Dr. Brown teaches. A sense of self-worth unhindered by the inner voices of shame, allows us to meet that need. With the warmth, candor, and humor that has made her a celebrated speaker, Brene Brown offers a road map for navigating the emotions that hold us back so we can cultivate a life of authenticity and connection. Session I: Understanding Shame Introduction The journey to worthiness What is shame? How women define shame How men define shame The irreducible need for love and belonging Metaphors for our experience Shame is universal The difference between humiliation and embarrassment Session 2: Developing Shame Resilience Introduction Empathy: the antidote to shame Being present for others Empathy versus sympathy Recognizing shame Strategies to get out of survival mode Practicing critical awareness Reaching out Speaking our shame "