When we think of times that we have felt vulnerable or emotionally exposed, we are actually recalling times of great courage.

Brown's book debunks some myths about vulnerability, the most popular being that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. In her new book, Daring Greatly, Brené Brown describes vulnerability as 'uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.' It's that unstable feeling we get when we step out of our comfort zone or do something that forces us to loosen control.ĭr. What vulnerability is and why it's good for us After twelve years studying vulnerability and shame, she has arrived at a surprising conclusion: what scares us is sometimes actually good for us, and if we can stomach sitting with it, vulnerability has the potential to transform itself into joy. Brown recently visited the University of Minnesota as a speaker for the Center for Spirituality and Healing's Wellbeing Series and shared some of the insights that come from her research. In fact, ' vulnerability is the core, the heart, the center of meaningful human experiences,' she says.ĭr.

This shaky feeling is vulnerability, and it makes you want to turn around and go home, where you can escape the potential judgment of others and your own fear of the unfamiliar.īut by pushing through those doors, you are doing something far more healthy and transformative, according to Brené Brown, a professor and vulnerability researcher at the University of Houston. Your heart rate speeds up, your palms grow sweaty, and you think, Why in the world did I ever think I could do this? But when you get to the studio and see other students walking confidently in, their mats slung over their shoulders, you begin to feel strange. You buy a mat, find a nearby class, and put on some stretchy pants. Let's say that after reading a few articles about the benefits of yoga, you decide to try it yourself.

Brene brown daring greatly ted talk