Book Club: The Gifts of Imperfection - Brene Brown
“Your guide to a wholehearted life.” It was a guide to a wholehearted book club discussion! One of the Maniacs thought that it is unrealistic to live your life absolutely free from other people’s expectations and standards. Two other Maniacs felt that it is possible and are implementing it as much as possible. What do you think…?
Have you ever looked at your “to do” list and realized that nothing on there was for you or your happiness? This is pretty much what Brene Brown did. She was in the middle of a study of shame when she came to the conclusion:
“I heard stories about the power of embracing imperfection and vulnerability. I learned about the inextricable connection between joy and gratitude, and how things that I take for granted, like rest and play, are as vital to our health as nutrition and exercise.”
Many of us spend our every waking moment on these endless lists of things that others expect of us. What’s on your “to do” list? Is there room for fun or relaxation? In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene inspires us to stop being concerned about what society expects us to do and do what’s right for us and our families.
Brene mentions defining moments, I have so many but I’ll just share one here (if you stay tuned you’ll most likely hear more of them). When I was a new mother I used to wake up early and stay up late to get all of my housework done. I was miserable and stressed out all the time. A mature friend of mine told me one day, “Honey, don’t worry about having time to do the dishes. I promise they will still be there when you get to it.” This sounded ridiculous but it was just what I needed to hear. I realized that I was so concerned about my home being perfect that I was missing my children grow up. So even now, if the chores aren’t done, if it’s beautiful outside, let’s go do something, let’s play a board game, let’s enjoy life. Living life wholeheartedly has gotten me and my children through many tough times. They know what’s really important to me.
I recommend this book and this concept to anyone ready to accept it.
Be compassionate to one another and live wholeheartedly!