‘Rising Strong’ by Brené Brown

Brené Brown’s perspective on human interaction and how to live wholeheartedly in relationship with others is so encouraging. She is a master at framing things like failure, shame, regret, and feelings of not being ‘enough’ in a way that is honest and healthy. These are natural feelings but can be harmful unless we reckon with them and are curious about why they happen and why we react the way we do sometimes. To love is to be vulnerable. Sometimes the hardest one to love is yourself. Rising strong from times when we feel we have failed is critical in forging a healthy self-concept. Perfection is an unrealistic bar set way too high.

Brown is both scientist and social scientist, highly professional and well researched. She offers much more than self-help formula. In her books she combines research and storytelling to share useful knowledge about human behaviour based on real life examples and experiences. To be honest, I found Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection to be more helpful than this one, but I soundly recommend this author and her many wonderful TED talks as well. Here are a few to get you started.