The Presents of Imperfection: tenth Anniversary Version: Incorporates a new foreword and brand-new instruments

Facing your imperfect self is hard, but so very worth it
Do you feel like you must “fake it” to be loved and accepted by others? It hurts, doesn’t it? I know.Do you live a life that is wholehearted and purposeful? I have realized that I do not. But I am striving to live more wholeheartedly, authentically, and purposefully.I believe in being a lifelong learner. I have read many books that have been helpful for personal, professional, and religious development, as well as some that are to much “fluff,” or that have been too narrow in their understanding and worldview to be truly helpful. Very rarely do I read such books more than once.Of all the books I read in the last 10 years, I believe “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown has been the most useful.“The Gifts of Imperfection” has challenged me on the lived concepts of belonging, authenticity, love, resiliency, exhaustion as a status symbol, faith, compassion, joy, gratitude, play, rest, stillness, anxiety, perfectionism, self-numbing, fear of others and uncertainty, and the need to always be in control… among other things.That might sound like a lot to process. It is. And it also seems like all those areas are interconnected. In processing one area, ex: Cultivating Authenticity: Letting Go of What People Think, the concepts carry over into other areas, such as Cultivating Play and Rest: Letting Go of Exhaustion as a Status Symbol and Productivity as Self-Worth. How do those fit together? I do not need to run myself into the ground to attempt to earn other people’s approval. If I am not authentic, then any version people accept of me is not the real me.I need to be real about what I can manage and where I fall short, and I can stop and rest and recharge so that I can be healthier in my life and relationships with others. I do not need to let the approval of others control me.This is not a “Do this for 90 days and your life will be completely transformed” approach. It is a journey. One I expect I will sometimes do well in, and other times I will act of a place of fear and scarcity, and I will need to try again.And I will try again.For anyone who made it to the end of this review, I would encourage you to pick up the book. You might be surprised about what you learn about yourself and how you live. And you might learn how to begin this process of living wholeheartedly. Dr. Brown writes to the heart, and the concepts make so much sense.For anyone who is into audio books, I highly recommend you get the 10th anniversary edition audiobook. Brené Brown reads it, and she is amazing at bringing the content and concepts to life.

This is not your typical research laden book with long technical descriptions that most people outside the field struggle to pronounce. Brene writes in a very down to earth and understandable way. Each chapter focuses on a single clearly defined topic that she simply defines with her own personal definition and clear descriptions . She also shares her own personal journey, trials and revelations in a friendly and light hearted way which makes reading this book feel more like a personal conversation with the author while she shares with you what she has learnt along the way.If you are looking for a book that will give you insight into living a wholehearted life, while not only coming to terms with you imperfections, but embracing them, then this is the book for you.Happy reading 😊

Excellent