"There's is nothing wrong with you dying. But you'd never know it from the way we talk about death."-BJ Mill

Author Quote 

It’s something that’s often in the top fears of people. Nobody wants to talk or even think about it. The subject has the power to take our breath away, paralyzing our thoughts.  I’m talking about death.

Book Overv

Whether you choose to think about it or not, you and those you love will die someday. I don’t say that to be morbid, but rather because acknowledging and <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/when-breath-becomes-air-summary/">talking about it </a>actually makes death a little easier. That’s because knowing what to expect helps you not be so blindsided when it finally comes for you. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BJ_Miller">BJ Miller </a>and Soshana Berger’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42202807-a-beginner-s-guide-to-the-end">A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death </a>contains the advice you need to prepare for death. Although it may sound intimidating to think about death, I promise that doing so will help you live a better life.

<ol><li>Take time for yourself when you receive the news that you have a terminal illness. </li><li>Prepare for death by cleaning out your stuff, reconciling any secrets or regrets, and leaving something meaningful for your loved ones. </li><li>When one of your loved ones dies, don’t pressure yourself right after, let the grief come and go without resistance. </li> </ol>Are you ready to have some of your fears about death squashed by learning some ways to prepare for it? Let’s begin!

3 Top Book Lessons 

All four of my grandparents had cancer at some point. About 10 years ago my dad got it, too. Receiving the news really shook me up. I had to take the time to process what was happening so I could function properly. It’s a gut-wrenching event that most can’t get a grasp on at first. You’re not a bad person for needing time to take it all in and stabilize yourself. After learning of a terminal illness, it’s best to take some time to relax somewhere that you feel the safest and comfortable.

Lesson 1: After learning of your own terminal illness, it’s best to take things slow.

All four of my grandparents had cancer at some point. About 10 years ago my dad got it, too. Receiving the news really shook me up. I had to take the time to process what was happening so I could function properly. It’s a gut-wrenching event that most can’t get a grasp on at first. You’re not a bad person for needing time to take it all in and stabilize yourself.

Lesson 1: After learning of your own terminal illness

When I got the news about my dad, I was halfway across the world. I remember going to the beach and walking along the shore of the Isle of Man where I lived at the time, just thinking. After learning of a terminal illness, it’s best to take some time to relax somewhere that you feel the safest and comfortable.

Once you feel that you’ve come to terms enough to do so, call your <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/big-potential-summary/">family and friends </a>. They will be the most supportive and help you get through this. It’s much better to do it with their help than trying to deal with it alone. Make sure to focus on them and not outside sources like the Internet. Googling your condition isn’t a great idea at this point.

Additionally, don’t try quitting smoking, drinking, binging on chocolate, or whatever coping mechanism you’ve got. Find relief in whatever makes it easier to deal with it. Avoid dramatic decisions, and don’t commit to any treatment until you can think more clearly.

When you die, you’ll take nothing with you. So clean up after yourself to not leave so much for your family to take care of after you’re gone. Give your relatives the gift of being able to <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/focus-summary/">focus </a>solely on you after you go, instead of having to clean out your attic.  It also helps your loved ones to leave behind meaningful items, like a letter for them to read in the future. Also, throw away the junk. Only leave what you want to pass down.

Lesson 2: Take care of your secrets and stuff before dying

When one of my grandma’s had terminal cancer she would put a piece of tape on items and write the name of the person to whom she wanted it to go. That made things a lot easier for all of us after she was gone. You’ll also want to make sure and reveal any big secrets and clean up any regrets or hard feelings. It’s painful for children to learn about an affair and half-sibling only after your death. And even though the pain you’ve caused others may not affect you after you’re gone, it sticks with those who you leave. That’s why it’s vital to say things like “I’m sorry” and “I love you.”

My dad and his parents all survived cancer. My other two grandparents weren’t so lucky. My mom’s dad succumbed to his illness before I was born, but I still remember when her mom died. It was shockingly painful. The best thing to do for me is what anyone should do after a loved one dies-focus on <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/self-compassion-summary/">gentle self-care </a>.

Lesson 3: Give yourself a break and let grief come and go

You can and must take time to grieve. It’s okay to cry, get angry, or do whatever your feelings dictate. Think of it like letting a wave washing over you. My mom once told me that when my grandpa died all of her siblings handled it differently. One punched a hole in the wall. Another held it all in until watching the Lion King and then cried like a baby. You do what works best for you, and <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/emotional-intelligence-summary/">don’t be afraid of emotion </a>.

Immediately after your loss, there will be some official tasks to complete in preparation for the <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/how-will-you-measure-your-life-summary/">funeral </a>. Other than this, don’t pressure yourself. Do whatever makes you feel at peace. Whether it’s binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix or eating ice cream, do it. Don’t demand too much of yourself.

When my dad’s mom died I was right in the middle of my first grad school class. I had homework and an upcoming test. On the day of her funeral, I went fishing with my cousins <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/how-not-to-worry-summary/">instead of worrying </a>about all I had to do. I didn’t even complete the homework assignment.  It helped me cope and get back on my feet sooner.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42202807-a-beginner-s-guide-to-the-end">A Beginner’s Guide to the End </a>is a book that will really make you think about your life. I’ve often thought about different aspects of death in preparation for it, and I’m grateful for the new ideas this book gave me to prepare. It was hard to read because I’ve had so many loved ones die from cancer, but I’m grateful for the added level of everyday mindfulness it’s given me.

A Beginner’s Guide To The End - Book Review

The 34-year-old who just lost their father, the 58-year-old who is caring for their dying mother, and anyone who is going through, or has a loved one with, a terminal illness.

Who would I recommend The A Beginner’s Guide To The End To?

A Beginner’s Guide To The End - Book Summary

This A Beginner's Guide To The End Summary will help you feel more prepared for death by teaching you how to be still, clean in preparation, and grieve.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

philosophy

Philosophy

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mentalhealth

Mental Health

problemsolving

Problem Solving

A Beginner's Guide To The End Summary

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10357675-a-first-rate-madness">A First-Rate Madness </a>shares the stories of many world leaders and explains how they prevailed despite their mental illnesses and struggles, showing you how to turn your psychological disadvantages into leadership strengths.

A First Rate Madness - Book Summary 

"In times of crises, we are better off being led by mentally ill leaders than by mentally normal ones "-S. Nassir Ghaemi

Author Quo

Some of the most brilliant people I know suffer from <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/lost-connections-summary/">depression </a>or other mental illnesses. Look throughout history and you’ll see many influential people had similar ailments. I’ve often wondered if there is a connection between sickness of the mind and <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/extreme-ownership-summary/">brilliant leadership </a>. Although not all great leaders are depressed, I now have some evidence to back up this belief.

Book Overview 

<a href="https://www.nassirghaemi.com/about">Nassir Ghaemi </a>’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10357675-a-first-rate-madness">A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness </a>gives some strong <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/why-are-we-yelling-summary/">arguments </a>for my hypothesis. While I believe there is more <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/what-if-summary/">science </a>needed to determine the truths <a href="https://www.nassirghaemi.com/about">Ghaemi </a>teaches, it’s still a fascinating start to an <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/difficult-conversations-summary/">important conversation </a>.

After all, mental illness often gets cast in a bad light. Because of this, there is a stigma around it that runs strongly throughout society. However, by acknowledging the struggles many world leaders had, and the possible benefits that mental state had on society, we can break the stigma. We can come to celebrate the usefulness of psychiatric illnesses instead of fearing them.

<ol><li>Depression and bipolar disorder have benefits that may be helpful in leadership positions. </li><li>Historical leaders like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, and JFK had disorders that helped them make better decisions. </li><li>Knowing the upside of mental illness can help us remove the stigma around it. </li> </ol>Looking for hope amid yours or others mental illness? Get ready to find what you’re looking for in these lessons!

Top 3 Book Less

The serious and devastating nature of depression and anxiety makes us easily ashamed of them. Depression runs in my family, and we’ve always struggled to talk about it. Although we are getting better, the social taboo around mental illness still lingers today. But there’s hope in the abilities that mentally unwell individuals have that others don’t.  Let’s take a look at Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder as examples. Major Depressive Disorder, or more commonly known as depression, is, for simplicity’s sake, like a deep, unbreakable sadness.

Lesson 1: The benefits of illnesses

<a href="https://www.nassirghaemi.com/about">Ghaemi </a>claims that because of what most people with depression feel, or sometimes don’t feel, they are <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/the-age-of-empathy-summary/">more empathetic </a>. People who are depressed can thus better understand the difficulties of human experience.  Bipolar Disorder, on the other hand, is when people experience depressive episodes but also manic periods as well. They may oscillate between sadness and euphoria frequently, even within hours. Often spontaneous, these people have heightened moods on both ends of the spectrum.

People with Bipolar Disorder spend time in the outlier regions of emotional highs and lows, where most other people never go. <a href="https://www.nassirghaemi.com/about">Ghaemi </a>believes that because of this, they’re more likely to see things from those outlier perspectives. They may be more creative than the rest of us. Let’s see how this, along with the benefits of depression, have helped society in times past.

Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi both tried to commit suicide when they were young? The two of them suffered from depression that started in childhood. Later in life, it appears that the stresses they had made their mental state worsen. This makes sense knowing the great changes each of these individuals brought about in the world.

Lesson 2: Nations have made it through difficult times

Consider the heightened sense of compassion that depressed people have. The civil rights movements of King and Gandhi both were, at their core, just radical empathy. Both of these great men highlighted the importance of love above all else. They knew of the despair that others were feeling because they had felt it themselves. Their level of concern for others is well-summarized by a quote from King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Winston Churchill was another case of a depressed leader making better decisions because of his illness. In 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain heroically declared that he would meet with Hitler directly. Chamberlain <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/the-audacity-of-hope-summary/">hoped </a>to persuade Hitler that war wasn’t necessary. Churchill, on the other hand, was more realistic because of his depression. His sound mind helped him make better decisions throughout his leadership.

Here’s one last example, this time of the possible benefits of Bipolar Disorder. John F. Kennedy exhibited many of the symptoms of Hyperthymic Personality Disorder, which is similar to Bipolar Disorder. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy held his position when everyone else told him to call for a pre-emptive nuclear strike. Because of his mental illness, he successfully averted a nuclear catastrophe.

Let’s wrap up with a deeper dive into a point we’ve mentioned before. We know that mental illness continues to be a taboo subject in many places around the world. While many people are breaking free of the stigma, countless others continue to struggle in silence.  It only makes sense for society to be afraid of something they can’t understand. But we must stop the progression of mental illnesses, and the spread of the stigma around it. This is where these upsides we’ve discussed come in handy.

Lesson 3: Recognizing that mental illness has its good sides

First, we need to accept the mentally unhealthy states of some of our past leaders. We must admit the positive contributions these individuals made despite their challenges.  This leads to the conclusion that those with illnesses like depression and Bipolar Disorder have made a difference in the world. Society is a better place because of the decisions of these leaders which were influenced by their mental illnesses.

From here, we can see that anyone, regardless of mental state, can make a positive contribution to society. Depressed or anxious people, those with Bipolar or eating disorders, and all who struggle with mental illness can <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/be-fearless-summary/">change the world </a>. By acknowledging these facts, more will admit that they need help. And when people accept their weakness, they can start the first steps to healing and recovery.

Wow, this book blew my mind and was a very interesting read! While I would caution everyone to take its conclusions with a <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/salt-a-world-history-summary/">grain of salt </a>, I also recommend <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10357675-a-first-rate-madness">A First-Rate Madness </a>to anyone. Although I didn’t agree with everything the book taught, the idea that mental illness has benefits is fascinating.

A First-Rate Madness - Book Review

The 29-year-old who is depressed and feels like there isn’t anything good about herself, the 44-year-old who has a child with bipolar disorder and is losing hope for their future, and anyone who is a student of history or psychology.

Who would I recommend the A First-Rate Madnes to?

This A First-Rate Madness summary shows you the upside of mental illness through the stories of some of the world's top leaders and their struggles.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

A First-Rate Madness Summary

These seven rules will help you deliberately take control of your thoughts, your programs, and their outcome in your everyday life.

The 7 Rules Of Neuroplasticity 

Mindfulness is the process of being consciously aware of your own mental environment and activity in a purposeful way at all times. Metacognition - a form of active thinking which is a function of the prefrontal cortex, it helps you regulate and manage your own thoughts. While it may be the choices you make each day that determine the road you wish to follow, it is first your mindfulness that heightens your brain's sensitivity to seeking that path.

Mindfulness 

Without making clear choices, you leave your brain to its own meanderings & those are determined by your old programs or by the random influences of whatever happens to be taking place in your life at the moment. Each choice you make gets recorded in your brain, and if you repeat that same choice often enough, it will actually form its own set of neural pathways and connections in your brain. Two types of choices - Conscious choices - The ones you think about when you're making them Unconscious choices - Any decision you make that you don't think about making

Choices

Intention is the creation of direction, with purpose: it is identifying the goal. When you're rewiring your brain, your success will depend on your mental direction and on the amount of intention you create in your own mind. Intention is the driving force of creation

Intention 

When the brain is rewiring itself, it responds best to clear, specific directions, not to messages that are vague and unfocused. The clearer the picture you're able to give your brain, the more detailed the neural imprint of that goal will be recorded in your brain. Your brain, when seeking a goal, will record only what you tell it, and exactly what you tell it, and only as completely as the picture you present to it.Anytbibg you leave unclear induces the brain to come up with its its own version of what it thinks you want.

Focus

The more famiar something begins to feel, the more "permanent" the that has become. Your brain forms almost all of its new neural pathways through repetition. It also strengthens older pathways with the same process.

Repetition 

When you're wiring your brain, strong emotions create strong programs. Your neuroplastic activity is strongest when your emotions are the most intense. Because of the mental chemistry of your own emotions, the programs you're wiring in will be stronger, last longer, and keep you moving in the direction of achieving your goal.

Emotion 

When it comes to wiring your brain, belief make a profound difference in the strength of the neural programs you create. If you want to succeed, time after time, you should consistently add your personal belief to the formula. The three rules of Neuroplasticity programming: choice, belief, & repetition. The more you believe in the outcome, the more that outcome tends to happen.

Belief 

The mind is a battlefield of thoughts, turn the tide & understand how to best create meaningful change in your life. 

In "The Power of Neuroplasticity," Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D., presents the scientific discovery that the thoughts we think physically rewire and reshape our brains and change our lives. Dr. Helmstetter shows how to use the latest research from the field of neuroscience to wire your brain to change attitudes, overcome negativity, improve health and fitness, reach personal goals, increase mental sharpness and clarity, improve usable IQ, super-charge your thinking and reshape your life, all with neuroscience on your side.

mindfulness

Mindfulness

books

Books

Shad Helmstetter

The Power of Neuroplasticity

Where are you investing your money? Purchasing expensive phones or designer clothes may being temporary Satisfaction, but investing in Yourself through regular exercise, healthy eating, and lifelong learning can improve your physical and mental well-being for years to come. Similarly, investing in stocks can provide the potential for long-term growth and higher returns than other investment options.

Investing in Yourself: The Key to Long-Term Success And Happines

Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you.

Investing in your health is essential for a fulfilling and long life. This includes taking care of your physical and mental health through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep. Investing in preventative healthcare, such as regular check-ups and vaccinations, can also save you money in the long run by catching health issues early before they become more serious and costly to treat.

Investing In Health

The greatest wealth is health.

Investing in your skills can increase your earning potential and improve your career prospects. This includes taking courses, attending workshops, or pursuing higher education to gain new knowledge and skills. Developing skills like communication, leadership, and problem-solving can also enhance your personal and professional growth.

Investing In Skills

The more you learn, the more you earn

Investing in stocks can be a way to grow your wealth over the long term, as historically the stock market has provided higher returns than other investment options. However, it's important to diversify your portfolio and not put all your eggs in one basket. Investing in a variety of stocks, bonds, and other securities can help spread out risk and minimize losses. Additionally, it's important to do your research and understand the risks involved before investing in stocks.

Investing In Stocks

I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.

These ideas help you in saving your money and invest it on right place also improves yourself and build a better version of you if you follow these ideas

health

Health

education

Learning & Education

business

Business

Investing in Yourself: The Power of Health, Skills, and Stocks.

In this first chapter, Hill demonstrates the power of your thought and how it has the power to shape your life.Hill writes that Edwin Barnes, a man who had an immense desire to partner and work with the famous inventor, Thomas Edison. Besides Edwin Barnes, Hill also writes about Darby, the guy quit because he failed to mine gold.

The Power Of Thought 💭

According to Napoleon Hill, desire is the starting point of all achievement.Anyone can achieve anything they want if they have a strong enough burning desire. And desire is not the same as a wish or a hope, it is definite and insatiable.Hill writes, “The most practical of all methods for controlling the mind is the habit of keeping it busy with a definite purpose.” In the book, Hill shares a six-step method how anyone can achieve what they desire in life, such as to amass wealth These six steps are a part of the transformation of what you desire in your mind into the physical equivalent.

 Desire 

In the third chapter, Hill writes about the important to have unshakable faith.He admits that it is difficult and challenging to be faithful when everything else around you is falling apart, but Hill states that faith is absolutely essential especially during tough times.

 Faith 

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

according to Hill, is to train your subconscious mind to attain the success you want.Auto-suggestion is a technique of teaching yourself to believe that you can achieve whatever you want.What you want to do is to condition your desire into your subconscious mind when you have convinced yourself about the desire you want to achieve through auto-suggestion, you will work on the success you desire and gain desirable results effortlessly.

Autosuggestion

Hill states that knowledge is power and if you want to achieve outstanding success, you must use your specialized knowledge. It is the application of the knowledge that is important. Knowledge itself is just a form of potential power.Hill suggests readers to always seek knowledge through public libraries, training courses, universities, colleges, practical experiences, and often read books in the related industry to gain more specialized knowledge that will give you an edge

Specialized Knowledge

Hill says that imagination is one the most important steps to success that everyone must use.He explains that there are two types of imagination, one is the synthetic imagination, which simple rearrange the existing ideas into new concepts. And another type of imagination is the creative imagination, which creates something from nothing.Hill writes that riches come “in response to definite demands, based upon the application of definite principles… when a creator of ideas and a seller of ideas got together and worked in harmony.”

Imagination

Hill discusses how one can achieve extraordinary success through organized planning.He shares with the readers a couple of steps that can be taken to construct a practical plan to accomplish what people desire.First, Hill says, you must associate yourself with other people to create a direction and put your plan into action.HHe calls this group of people, the ‘mastermind’, which he also dedicates a whole chapter to this subject

Organized Planning 

According to Napoleon Hill, one of the most common reasons people fail is because of procrastination.He says that it is important to avoid procrastination and take immediate action. Most people will wait and refuse to do things immediately, which causes them to lose motivation and eventually, fail in their venture.

Decision

Persistence is an extremely important factor that will determine your success and riches in life. Hill says that it is an important habit or practice you need to develop to build faith and succeed in your endeavors. There are a couple of examples given by Hill to show their will and determination in handling difficult moments. One is none other than Thomas Edison, the famous inventor who invented light-bulb.

Persistence

Hill writes that mastermind is perhaps the most important principles to success. As what he already explains in the earlier chapter, you need to leverage both the economic and “psychic” features of having such a group of individuals to support you in your journey.In a simple term, the combination of experience and brainpower has a serious economic advantage

Power of the Mastermind 

Hill describes the power of sex transmutation in this chapter. He says that sexual urge is a very powerful force and oftentimes, men lose their focus and risk their lives, career and also money to quench their desires. And if this sexual energy can be transformed into a creative energy, it has tremendous power and ability to help boost your willpower. What Hill is trying to say is that sexual desires are insatiable and they can be converted into something that is very productive.

The Mystery of Sex Transmutation

This book is all about harnessing the power of your subconscious mind. And though Hill has covered some of the most important ideas and the concept of your subconscious mind works in the earlier chapter, Hill dedicates a full chapter to remind his readers about the importance of understanding and connecting their subconscious mind with richest and success.According to Hill, we can voluntarily plant any idea we desire in our subconscious mind to use its power to achieve what we want in life.

The Subconscious Mind

Napoleon Hill explains that our brain is a remarkable machine and it works just like a broadcasting and receiving station for thoughts.With more than 14 million nerve cells, the brain works like a factor that guides and controls our day-to-day life.He also says that thoughts are things and the greater the vibration our brain receives, the higher the chances we can achieve our goals.<a href="https://t.me/+_ceB5ziqccYwOTBl">This is why a mastermind group works.</a>

The Brain

Some people refer sixth sense to their gut feeling or intuition, and Hill says that it is crucial to believe and tap into one’s sixth sense when it comes to making a decision and accumulates wealth.Hill defines sixth sense as “that portion of the subconscious mind which has been referred to as the Creative Imagination,” through which “you will be warned of impending dangers in time to avoid them, and notified of opportunities in time to embrace them.” Hill continues to say that it is not possible to explain how the sixth sense works, but it can only be understood once you have experienced it.

The Sixth Sense

In this chapter, Hill addresses that there are six fears that stop us in life. They are poverty, old age, criticism, illness, love, and death. And because faith cannot co-exist with fear, you must learn to master your fear in order to grow your faith and to achieve the success you want in life. When you are fearful, you will never have faith, and when you are faithful, you will never be fearful.And Hill writes that fear is a state of mind, and because you can control your state of mind, you can overcome your fears. Therefore, choose to exercise your willpower to banish your fear, your worry.

How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear

This is the final chapter in Think and Grow Rich. And in this section, Hill talks about another important factor that may prevent you from getting what you want and becoming rich. Hill states that this evil is even stronger and dangerous than the previous six fears that you have learned from the last chapter.According to Hill, this evil is your susceptibility to negative influences. And if you did not take immediate action to analyze yourself to figure out if you are under negative influences, it will grow so strong that becomes very difficult to eliminate.

The Devil’s Workshop 

Complete summary of think and grow rich by Napoleon hill. Follow for more.

Napoleon Hill, America's most beloved motivational author, devoted 25 years to finding out how the wealthy became that way. After interviewing over 500 of the most affluent men and women of his time, he uncovered the secret to great wealth based on the no

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

Ever wondered how life would be if we could condition our minds to Think and Grow Rich? Author Napoleon Hill claims to have based this book on twenty years of rigorous research on the lives of those who had amassed great wealth and made a fortune. Observing their habits, their ways of working and the principles they followed, Hill put together laws and philosophies that can be practiced in everyday life to achieve all-round success. The narrative is rich with stories and anecdotes, which not only inspire, but also show a way forward to take action. After all, riches are not just material, but also pertaining to the mind, body and spirit.  Having sold more than fifteen million copies across the world, this book remains the most read self-improvement book of all times!

Oliver Napoleon Hill was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich, which is among the best-selling self-help books of all time. Hill's works insisted that fervid expectations are essential to improving one's life.

Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bren%C3%A9_Brown">Brené Brown </a>is the world’s #1 researcher on shame, vulnerability, and courage. An American professor, author, and podcaster born in 1965, Brené’s work first received widespread public attention after <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability/">her 2010 TEDx talk </a>on “the power of vulnerability.” If you’re looking for the best Brené Brown quotes from her books and talks, you’ve come to the right place!

Despite covering important topics that affect all of us, Brené’s research initially wasn’t super popular among her academic peers. After her TED talk went viral, however, it became clear that mainstream demand to learn more about shame and vulnerability was huge. That’s why Brené started publishing <a href="https://brenebrown.com/books-audio">books </a>, and so far, 6 of her 8 main titles have become major bestsellers.

To give you an overview of her work and best ideas, we’ve compiled the most popular Brené Brown quotes for you in an organized list. Besides the top 10 lines based on reader votes, we’ve also included the top 5 quotes from 7 of her books each, as well as some custom-designed images for you to share your favorites on social media.

Navigating this list is as easy as clicking on the section that most interests you in the table of contents below. To share any quote, just highlight the text, and sharing options will appear. You can also use the images towards the end of this list. Now, without further ado, let’s jump into the best quotes from Brené Brown!

1. “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

2. “Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them — we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.”

3. “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”

4. “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”

5. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”

6. “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

7. “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

8. “Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”

9. “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”

10. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”

11. “Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.”

12. “If you want to make a difference, the next time you see someone being cruel to another human being, take it personally. Take it personally because it is personal!”

13. “Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is ‘cor’ — the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant ‘To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.’ Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as ‘ordinary courage.’”

14. “Compassion is not a virtue — it is a commitment. It’s not something we have or don’t have — it’s something we choose to practice.”

15. “The biggest potential for helping us overcome shame is this: We are ‘those people.’ The truth is…we are the others. Most of us are one paycheck, one divorce, one drug-addicted kid, one mental health illness, one sexual assault, one drinking binge, one night of unprotected sex, or one affair away from being ‘those people’ — the ones we don’t trust, the ones we pity, the ones we don’t let our kids play with, the ones bad things happen to, the ones we don’t want living next door.”

16. “We cannot selectively numb emotions. When we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.”

17. “The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.”

18. “Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.”

19. “Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.”

20. “Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.”

21. “If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive.”

22. “When I look at narcissism through the vulnerability lens, I see the shame-based fear of being ordinary. I see the fear of never feeling extraordinary enough to be noticed, to be lovable, to belong, or to cultivate a sense of purpose.”

23. “What we know matters but who we are matters more.”

24. “The willingness to show up changes us, It makes us a little braver each time.”

25. “Numb the dark and you numb the light.”

26. “Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.”

27. “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”

28. “Just because someone isn’t willing or able to love us, it doesn’t mean that we are unlovable.”

29. “There are too many people today who instead of feeling hurt are acting out their hurt; instead of acknowledging pain, they’re inflicting pain on others. Rather than risking feeling disappointed, they’re choosing to live disappointed. Emotional stoicism is not badassery. Blustery posturing is not badassery. Swagger is not badassery. Perfection is about the furthest thing in the world from badassery.”

30. “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.”

31. “Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don’t belong. You will always find it because you’ve made that your mission. Stop scouring people’s faces for evidence that you’re not enough. You will always find it because you’ve made that your goal. True belonging and self-worth are not goods; we don’t negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts. Our call to courage is to protect our wild heart against constant evaluation, especially our own. No one belongs here more than you.”

33. “People often silence themselves, or ‘agree to disagree’ without fully exploring the actual nature of the disagreement, for the sake of protecting a relationship and maintaining connection. But when we avoid certain conversations, and never fully learn how the other person feels about all of the issues, we sometimes end up making assumptions that not only perpetuate but deepen misunderstandings, and that can generate resentment.”

34. “You are only free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.”

35. “But what we know now is that when we deny our emotion, it owns us. When we own our emotion, we can rebuild and find our way through the pain.”

36. “I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”

37. “At the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of my life, I want to say I contributed more than I criticized.”

38. “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”

39. “If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I’m not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their lives but who will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgment at those who dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism, and fearmongering. If you’re criticizing from a place where you’re not also putting yourself on the line, I’m not interested in what you have to say. ”

40. “Show up for people in pain and don’t look away.”

Are you looking for the best quotes from Brené Brown, the world's #1 researcher on shame, courage & vulnerability? Here are her top lines.

The 45 Best Brené Brown Quotes About Courage, Shame & Vulnerability

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