The Power of Vulnerability

Teachings of Authenticity, Connection, and Courage

By: Brené Brown

Narrated by: Brené Brown

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Show Up and Let Yourself be Seen

Is vulnerability the same as weakness? “In our culture,” teaches Dr. Brené Brown, “we associate vulnerability with emotions we want to avoid such as fear, shame, and uncertainty. Yet we too often lose sight of the fact that vulnerability is also the birthplace of joy, belonging, creativity, authenticity, and love.” On The Power of Vulnerability, Dr. Brown offers an invitation and a promise - that when we dare to drop the armor that protects us from feeling vulnerable, we open ourselves to the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. Here she dispels the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and reveals that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage.

“The Power of Vulnerability is a very personal project for me,” Brené explains. “This is the first place that all of my work comes together. This audio course draws from all three of my books - it’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned over the past twelve years. I'm very excited to weave it all into a truly comprehensive form that shows what these findings and insights can mean in our lives.”

Guidance and Insights for Wholehearted Living

Over the past twelve years, Dr. Brené Brown has interviewed hundreds of people as part of an ongoing study of vulnerability. “The research shows that we try to ward disappointment with a shield of cynicism, disarm shame by numbing ourselves against joy, and circumvent grief by shutting off our willingness to love,” explains Dr. Brown. When we become aware of these patterns, she teaches, we begin to become conscious of how much we sacrifice in the name of self-defense -and how much richer our lives become when we open ourselves to vulnerability.

“In my research,” Dr. Brown says, “the word I use to describe people who can live from a place of vulnerability is wholehearted.” Being wholehearted is a practice—one that we can choose to cultivate through empathy, gratitude, and awareness of our vulnerability armor. Join this engaging and heartfelt teacher on The Power of Vulnerability as she offers profound insights on leaning into the full spectrum of emotions—so we can show up, let ourselves be seen, and truly be all in.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cultivating shame resilience—the key to developing a sense of worth and belonging.
• Vulnerability as the origin point for innovation, adaptability, accountability, and visionary leadership.
• Our emotional armory - how we use perfectionism, numbing, and other tactics to avoid feeling vulnerable.
• The myths of vulnerability - common misconceptions about weakness, trust, and self-sufficiency.
• Discovering your vulnerability armor - recognizing what makes us shut down, and how we can change.
• The 10 guideposts of wholehearted living - essential skills for becoming fully engaged in life.
• Six hours of stories, warm humor, and transformative insights for living a life of courage, authenticity, and compassion from Dr. Brené Brown.

©2012 Brené Brown (P)2012 Brené Brown

Changed my life !

This book gave me the courage to change how I handle situations at work the first week after reading it. Thank You! Love it!

Fantastic Book!!!

I absolutely love this book!!! Dr. Brene Brown you are my favorite! At first I didn’t think I wanted to listen to a book this long but it actually wasn’t that long at all and I took away some very great key points to use in my life. At the end when you talked about your daughter doing the robot in Department store and you said you heard a voice in your head saying don’t betray her I felt that moment so deep. I have always been shy and quiet in public but at home I am the complete opposite. My son on the other hand has never met a stranger, is always introducing himself to everyone and living his best life. At first I would try to stop him because I was to shy to do it but he has truly taught me a lesson and I do not stop him anymore but I don’t want to dull his light with my insecurities. I am trying to get my family to understand that as well. Thank you so much for the research you do..... it’s changing my life!!!!!!

Great book! Love the way it is presented

This presentation is more of a recording of a presentation than a book but I actually enjoyed it that way. She makes a lot of good points. You should read this book if you are looking to be more comfortable with being true to yourself, honoring your shame and flaws and learning how to be ok with mistakes.

Power of Vulnerability

She's funny, & knows how to break things down to show people how simple changes can make a huge difference in the way one can live life better.
She gives good examples from her own experience, she kept me intrigued, and the longer that I listened to her she grows on you.

I have a few of her other books, she radiates kindness, and I highly recommend reading this book. Its slow in some areas but I enjoyed it, and her messages on several areas.
Nice job Brene.

Recommended it to everyone

I loved the power of vulnerability. Brene Brown is hilarious and her way of presenting things is priceless. I am a personal development coach and I assigned this to all of my students because I feel the information is so pertinent and important for everyone to understand.
The only thing I did not like about it was the profanity, I asked some of my family members to read it but because of the profanity they weren't able to appreciate the message as deeply as they could have.

One of the best! Even the second time

The most amazing perspective on life that I have ever heard. There are so many take-away pieces that I have been unable to stop sharing with loved ones.

Fabulous & Informative!

Would you listen to The Power of Vulnerability again? Why?

yes - it was full of wonderful and insightful information and the delivery by Brene was excellent!

What does Brené Brown bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her delivery of the material was fabulous and entertaining. Couldn't wait to hear more each day.

Great introduction to Brown's work

This is the first thing I’ve encountered by Ms. Brown, and it was a wonderful introduction to and summary of her work. This short but comprehensive audio comprises a series of presentations made by Brown to a live audience. Over the course of 6-1/2 hours, Brown summarizes her books on shame, imperfection and vulnerability, interspersing her research findings with funny stories about her own life and how she struggles to live by the ideas she espouses. I found a lot to think about in each segment and much to inspire me in my own search to grow emotionally and spiritually.

Amazing!!

This talk is so beautiful, extremely needed, and if embraced, can be transforming. I highly recommend this talk and I am grateful that something like this is out there.

Amazing information that everyone needs.

I see myself and those in my life so different now. This is one of the most powerful things I've read in a long time.