The Gifts of Imperfection

 Nonfiction book by Brene Brown.

Self-help is not my favorite genre, so I found myself occasionally bored. However, there were some interesting and insightful points I want to remember:

The way we learn to swim is by swimming. Likewise,  the way we learn to courage is by couraging. The way we learn to compassion is by compassioning...

The original meaning of the word couarge: to openly speak all that is in your heart.

Don't minimize things that are important to you; then others will follow your lead and minimize them too. 

Technology tricks us into mistaking communication for connection. They're not the same. 

Fake it til you make it is a way of practicing imperfection. This is good for you!

Spirituality is a critical component of resilience.

Hope is setting reachable goals, seeing a path to success despite setbacks, and believing in ourselves, using our agency to move forward on that path to reach the goal.

Hope is and can be learned.

Entitlement and feeling powerless lead to hopelessness.

Gratitude precedes joy. 

Gratitude must be practiced. It's action rather than mere attitude.

Beware of a scarcity mindset. "I don't have enough ____(time, money,skill, knowledge, fitness, friends, etc). It leaves you feeling powerless, insufficient, lacking, not enough. It robs you of joy. To cultivate a sufficiency mindset, practice gratitude. 

Everyone is creative. It's just a question of whether or not you use your creativity. It needs to be prioritized and scheduled.

Play is critical to joy. It is as essential to our health as rest. The opposite of play is depression.

Exhaustion is not a status symbol. 

Anxiety is contagious, but so is calm.

Meaningful work is anything that uses our gifts and talents. It can be paid or unpaid.

Beware of "supposed to"... says who?

Laughter, music, and dance: A way of sharing collective joy. They create spiritual connection. (No wonder I enjoy dance parties in the kitchen!)

True laughter is not self-deprecating or caustic. It's not laughing AT anyone. 

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