Anything written by Brené Brown is a must read, but boy did she peg me with this one! For anyone who has ever struggled with perfectionism or perfectionist tendencies, The Gifts of Imperfection is like a warm blanket on a cold night. Far from a boring “self-help” book, this one is an inspiring, funny, down to earth recounting of Brown’s own struggles with perfectionism, sprinkled with the advice all us world-weary perfectionists need to her in order to stop “hustling” for our worth. Pro tip for Perfectionists: Read it now. Read it again. Read it often.
From Goodreads: Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we’d no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can’t keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn’t everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Bown, PhD, a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares what she’s learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living–a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, and to go to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging. Check it out on Goodreads!