learn more about brené's books & curriculum
i thought it was just me (but it isn't)
Shame is a profoundly debilitating emotion. It drives our fears of not being good enough. We can learn to feel shame about anything that is real about us --- our shape, our accent, our financial situation, our wrinkles, our size, our illness, or how we spend our day. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME is an urgent and compelling invitation to examine our struggles with shame and to learn valuable tools to become our best, most authentic selves. Grounded in exceptional scholarship and filled with inspiring stories, this is one of those rare books that has the potential to turn lives around.
--Harriet Lerner, Ph.D. author of The Dance of Anger
Brené Brown has written an insightful and informative study of a subject that leaves many women feeling trapped and powerless. Her analysis of how women are often caught in shame, is in itself liberating, and her thoughtful suggestions will help readers continue to free themselves from emotional debilitation in ways they may not even realize are possible. I Thought It Was Just Me can be a doorway to freedom and self-esteem for many, many readers.
-- Martha Beck, Ph.D., columnist, O, The Oprah Magazine, and author of Finding Your Own Northstar
This is an important and inspiring book that offers understanding and validation to the painful feelings that come with the beliefs that we are not good enough or we should be different than who we are. Brené Brown walks us on a path that releases the shackles of inadequacy and leads us to embracing our authentic selves.
--Claudia Black, Ph.D., author of It Will Never Happen To Me
Brené Brown’s ability to explore shame and resilience with humor, vulnerability and honesty is both uplifting and liberating. If we want to change our lives, our relationships or even the world, we must start by understanding and overcoming the shame that keeps us silent. This important and hopeful book offers a bold new perspective on the power of telling our stories.
--Professor Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
International Campaign to Ban Landmines
From the book jacket: The quest for perfection is exhausting and unrelenting. We spend too much precious time and energy managing perception and creating carefully edited versions of ourselves to show to the world. As hard as we try, we can’t seem to turn off the tapes that fill our heads with messages like, “Never good enough!” and “What will people think?”
Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance we might think it’s because we admire perfection, but that’s not the case. We are actually the most attracted to people we consider to be authentic and down-to-earth. We love people who are “real” – we’re drawn to those who both embrace their imperfections and radiate self-acceptance.
There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how we’re supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in pretending and perfection.
Based on seven years of ground-breaking research, I THOUGHT WAS JUST ME shines a long-overdue light on an important truth: Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we’re all in this together.
Dr. Brown writes, “We need our lives back. It’s time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection – the courage to be real, the compassion we need to love ourselves and others, and the connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.”
connections curriculum
This empowering new approach to understanding the universal experience of shame begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. As we learn more about shame resilience and start to put the elements into practice, we can start to move through the by-products of shame – fear, blame and disconnection – and move toward the courage, compassion and connection we need to live our best, authentic lives.
The Connections curriculum offers facilitators empirically based strategies for understanding shame and building shame resilience. Each session includes a learning or didactic piece that can be delivered by the facilitator or by Dr. Brown (on DVD).
The curriculum (a simple downloadable PDF file on a CD) includes suggested session formats, a complete collection of reproducible exercises, handouts and homework suggestions.
Each session is designed to engage clients on a cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal level. The structured 12-session format was developed to be flexible and easily adapted for use in a variety of settings and with clients who bring diverse experiences and needs to the process.
The curriculum was designed for group work; however, the exercises, handouts and didactic pieces can be very effective tools when working with individuals, couples and families.
To purchase the curriculum, click here to visit Hazelden Publishing.
Press play to preview a segment from the curriculum DVD:
