Episode 29 - Review and Summary of Dare Greatly by Brene Brown

We all have experienced being put down or shamed in our lives, our work and sometimes, even by the people closest to us. In this book, we find how harmful this is and how it can prevent us and others from living up to our full potential.

Dr. Brene Brown, the author is a research professor who is a foremost leader on the topic of shame and vulnerability.

Her book aims to open up our minds about being willing to open ourselves up to vulnerability as an antidote to shame and as the title says, Dare greatly.

Brene opens the book with an excerpt from Teddy Rosevelt’s speech in Paris in 1910, often known as “The Man in the Arena” he says.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

To Brené, this is a vulnerability and its what it means to Dare Greatly. A quote from her say’s,

“Vulnerability is not weakness, and the uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure we face every day are not optional. Our only choice is a question of engagement. Our willingness to own and engage with our vulnerability determines the depth of our courage and the clarity of our purpose; the level to which we protect ourselves from being vulnerable is a measure of our fear and disconnection”.

We often get stuck and paralyzed by waiting until we or something is perfect before we jump into the arena. We put opportunities and relationships on hold and waste valuable time just because we are waiting for perfection.

Brene shares her finding that we must seize the opportunity by walking into the arena, may it be a difficult conversation, relationship, an important event, business opportunity or as simple as our day to day lives and have the willingness and courage to be present and engaged. Instead of staying on the bench and simply looking in from the outside throwing our judgements and advise, she dares us to stand up and show ourselves. This is what Daring greatly is all about.