The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown | TED
TED
20 min, 50 sec
A detailed exploration of vulnerability and how embracing it can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Summary
- The speaker recounts an anecdote about being labeled a 'storyteller' instead of 'researcher' to make her work seem more appealing.
- Connection is identified as the essence of the human experience and shame as a barrier to it.
- People with a strong sense of worthiness and belonging are more likely to embrace vulnerability, which is the core of meaningful human experiences.
- The speaker describes how we try to numb vulnerability with negative consequences, leading to a lack of true connection.
- Authenticity and believing in one's worthiness are key to living a 'wholehearted' life.
Chapter 1
![The speaker's identity crisis between being a researcher and a storyteller.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTc3LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a4dd8fce8796d1b3cfb209394f855ff992f51750/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_54.jpg)
The speaker's identity crisis between being a researcher and a storyteller.
- An event planner struggles to market the speaker as a researcher due to fear of being perceived as boring.
- The planner suggests calling the speaker a storyteller which triggers the speaker's academic insecurities.
- The speaker eventually embraces being a 'researcher-storyteller' despite the planner's skepticism.
![The speaker's identity crisis between being a researcher and a storyteller.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTc3LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a4dd8fce8796d1b3cfb209394f855ff992f51750/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_54.jpg)
Chapter 2
![The speaker explores the fundamental human need for connection.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTc5LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--bee74353502f855690d42f914df62207d9c9e7d1/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_161.jpg)
The speaker explores the fundamental human need for connection.
- Connection is the overarching theme of the speaker's research and is seen as the essence of life.
- The speaker's academic journey is driven by a desire to organize and understand life's chaotic aspects.
- Despite initially seeking to control and predict, the speaker discovers that vulnerability is key to connection.
![The speaker explores the fundamental human need for connection.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTc5LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--bee74353502f855690d42f914df62207d9c9e7d1/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_161.jpg)
Chapter 3
![The speaker learns that shame and vulnerability are central to the human experience.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTgxLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--3e836f10a2cb7c9d165779377550f8773a088496/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_300.jpg)
The speaker learns that shame and vulnerability are central to the human experience.
- Research reveals shame as a barrier to connection, characterized by a fear of unworthiness.
- Vulnerability is identified as both the core of shame and the cradle of positive human experiences like joy and creativity.
- The speaker resolves to understand vulnerability better, despite personal challenges with the concept.
![The speaker learns that shame and vulnerability are central to the human experience.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTgxLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--3e836f10a2cb7c9d165779377550f8773a088496/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_300.jpg)
Chapter 4
![Wholehearted individuals share common traits that enable them to live fulfilled lives.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTgzLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--b46b79173162ef8e5f758a0850cb20de761b6bfc/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_489.jpg)
Wholehearted individuals share common traits that enable them to live fulfilled lives.
- The speaker examines the lives of 'wholehearted' individuals who embrace their worthiness.
- Courage to be imperfect, compassion, connection through authenticity, and embracing vulnerability are key traits.
- These individuals engage with vulnerability not as something to be comfortable with, but as a necessary part of life.
![Wholehearted individuals share common traits that enable them to live fulfilled lives.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTgzLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--b46b79173162ef8e5f758a0850cb20de761b6bfc/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_489.jpg)
Chapter 5
![The speaker's personal crisis leads to a deeper understanding of her research findings.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTg1LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--33d57e340f0a838230b48d009515e01e70d04584/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_717.jpg)
The speaker's personal crisis leads to a deeper understanding of her research findings.
- Confronted with the importance of vulnerability, the speaker experiences a breakdown, reframed as a spiritual awakening.
- Seeking help from a therapist, the speaker strives to apply her findings to her own life.
- The struggle with vulnerability leads to a transformative year and an enriched perspective on worthiness and living.
![The speaker's personal crisis leads to a deeper understanding of her research findings.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTg1LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--33d57e340f0a838230b48d009515e01e70d04584/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_717.jpg)
Chapter 6
![Society's tendency to numb vulnerability leads to a range of personal and cultural issues.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTg3LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--c1ad2f9c8a992af3de8204a8640489b0c7ee6ce8/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_980.jpg)
Society's tendency to numb vulnerability leads to a range of personal and cultural issues.
- The speaker discusses how we numb vulnerability through addiction and by seeking certainty in an uncertain world.
- Perfectionism, particularly in parenting, is critiqued as a harmful attempt to shield ourselves from vulnerability.
- We tend to ignore the impact of our actions on others and ourselves, further disconnecting us from true vulnerability.
![Society's tendency to numb vulnerability leads to a range of personal and cultural issues.](https://www.videogist.co/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTg5NTg3LCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--c1ad2f9c8a992af3de8204a8640489b0c7ee6ce8/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGciLCJyZXNpemVfdG9fbGltaXQiOls3MjAsbnVsbF19LCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--c9426325207613fdd890ee7713353fad711030c7/11174_980.jpg)
Chapter 7
The speaker concludes with the importance of embracing vulnerability for a meaningful life.
- Letting ourselves be vulnerably seen and loving wholeheartedly with no guarantees is essential.
- Practicing gratitude and joy, even in fear, and the belief in our own sufficiency are pivotal.
- Being kinder to ourselves and others, and believing 'I am enough', facilitates a wholehearted life.
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