January: The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are! A guide to a wholehearted life.....

Through this self-help classic we find courage to overcome paralyzing fear and self-consciousness, strengthening our connection to the world and helping us to believe we are worthy of self-discovery, personal growth, and boundless love.

A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living, rather than just the average self-help book, with this groundbreaking work Brené Brown, Ph.D., bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an “imperfect” life and embracing living authentically. Brown’s “ten guideposts” are benchmarks for authenticity that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty—a perfectly imperfect life.

Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to “dig deep” and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can’t hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection.

Fuel For Thought Questions:

1. Brené defines wholehearted living as “engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness.” After reading this section, how do you define it?

2. Are there parts of your story that are more difficult to own than others? What would reclaiming those stories (retelling the story without blame, shame, or judgement) mean for you?

3. "Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."Share what it means to you to, “be enough.” “That you are enough.” What comes up for you to describe this place of beingness?

4. If hope is a mindset that is "a combination of setting goals, having the tenacity and perseverance to pursue them, and believing in our own abilities," which of these three aspects of hope are you most skilled in and which do you want to develop?

5. How have you expressed your creativity/originality in the past? Include examples from both childhood and adulthood.