My friend Lisa Chick suggested this Brene Brown Ted Talk to me, which was recommended to her by Melinda Gates. I think it’s one of the most brilliant insights I’ve come across in a while (even though I’m inclined to be suspicious of the theater of Ted Talks, at least until they call me up on the stage . . .).
What if we all embraced our vulnerability?
Like the fact that I told a vageuly inapproriate JOKE at a business meeting at the glamorous Soho House today. I haven’t told a joke since . . . ever, actually. I know my kids are TERRIBLE at telling jokes, and now I see that they come by that trait naturally. Instead of beating myself up about how idiotic I am, what if I was kind to myself about being human and was open to the possibility that stronger connections happen when people can see the real, unpolished, bad-joke telling you? Because I loved the gals I met. It’s such a rush to do business with smart women.
Anyway, here’s an excerpt from the Ted Talk. If you do one thing today, watch this Ted Talk!
to let ourselves be seen,deeply seen,vulnerably seen; to love with our whole hearts, even though there’s no guarantee. . . to practice gratitude and joy in those moments of terror,when we’re wondering, “Can I love you this much? Can I believe in this this passionately?Can I be this fierce about this?”just to be able to stop and, instead of catastrophizing what might happen,to say, “I’m just so grateful,because to feel this vulnerable means I’m alive.” And the last, which I is probably the most important, think is to believe that we’re enough. Because when we work from a place,I believe, that says, “I’m enough,”then we stop screaming and start listening, we’re kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we’re kinder and gentler to ourselves.
Brene Brown
