The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brene Brown

The Gifts Of Imperfection

by Brene Brown

In hardback for the first time, this tenth-anniversary edition of the game-changing #1 New York Times bestseller features a new foreword and brand-new tools to make the work your own.

For over a decade, Brene Brown has found a special place in our hearts as a gifted mapmaker and a fellow traveller. She is both a social scientist and a kitchen-table friend whom you can always count on to tell the truth, make you laugh and, on occasion, cry with you. And what's now become a movement all started with The Gifts of Imperfection, which has sold more than two million copies in thirty-five different languages across the globe.

What transforms this book from words on a page to effective daily practices are the ten guideposts to wholehearted living. The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way.

Brene writes, "This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, 'My story matters because I matter.' Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance."

Reviewed by Hillary on

5 of 5 stars

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We all have visions of who we think we should be. At least I know I do. And when we fail to meet our self-imposed standards we beat ourselves up. This book shows us that the strongest happiest people are those who practice immense self-love and compassion and have strong boundaries.

This was a shock to me. I had thought that I had obtained self-love through years of therapy and I have. I still have problems with boundaries. I have a tendency to let people walk all over me then wonder why I spend time feeling hurt about it. While reading this book I realized that I need to create boundaries but I am not sure how to do that so back to therapy I go.

If you are looking for quick answers for problems you won’t find it here. This book is more about self-awareness. Like I became aware of letting people “push” it with me. Tat is a huge issue. I have no idea how to talk to people and tell them they are overstepping bounds then the day comes when I explode like a volcano and I lose friends.  This has happened just recently. Also I know there are some people who I am better off not having in my life but again how to get rid of them?

Self Compassion is another theme the book touched on. I admit that is another area that I am not sure how to do. When ever I mess up I usually end up crucifying myself. The book talks about how the happiest and healyist people have loads of self compassion and when they mess up they forgive themselves and move on.

Then there is cultivating Play and Rest. I make sure I get my 10 hours of sleep a night but as for “Play” not so much. It seems I am always working. I need to take time and do things just for the hell of it and not because it is going to make me money or whatever. I used to be so good at this when I was younger but now as an adult I seem to have lost this.

There are other things that she mentions also but these three were the ones that struck me the most. It made me realize that where I am now( even though I am the healthiest and happiest I have ever been) there is still loads of improvement to be made.This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 March, 2016: Finished reading
  • 30 March, 2016: Reviewed