2018/03/30

당신들, 해선 안 될 일을 잔인하게도 했구려 - 오마이뉴스



당신들, 해선 안 될 일을 잔인하게도 했구려 - 오마이뉴스




당신들, 해선 안 될 일을 잔인하게도 했구려[이 시대 읽어야 할 명저 12] 
피터 싱어의 <동물해방>으로 보는 인간과 동물의 도덕철학
11.03.29 15:59l최종 업데이트 11.03.31 15:06l
박찬운(chanpark62)

꿈에 나타나는 살처분 현장의 생지옥

나는 채식주의자도 아니다. 더욱 동물애호가도 아니다. 그 흔한 개나 고양이를 집에서 키워 본 적도 없다. 그럼에도 요즈음 꿈자리가 뒤숭숭하다. 살처분 현장에서 죽어가는 소와 돼지가 자꾸 꿈에 나타난다.

트럭에 실려 온 돼지들이 구덩이 안으로 떨어진다. 대부분 살아 있는 것들이다. 일부 돼지들은 매질과 발길질이 가해지면서 구덩이 속으로 들어간다. 그것들도 자신의 운명을 아는지 필사적으로 구덩이에서 나오려 한다. 발버둥치는 돼지들 머리 위에서 굴착기가 찍어 누른다. 꽥꽥거리는 비명이 온 천지를 진동한다.



▲ '동물사랑실천협회'가 경기도 이천 대월면 송라리, 군량리 두 곳의 매몰지에서 지난 1월 11일 2천여마리의 돼지를 산 채로 구덩이에 밀어 널어 살처분하는 현장 영상을 공개했다.
ⓒ 동물사랑실천협회 제공

관련사진보기

생지옥이 따로 없다. 어떤 곳에서는 이런 식으로 반나절 만에 2만 마리의 돼지가 살처분되었다고 한다. 지난해 11월 구제역이 처음 발생한 뒤 이렇게 매몰 살처분된 가축 수가 무려 350여만 마리에 달하고 그 보상액도 1조 원을 넘었다. 환경문제는 대재앙의 문턱에 있고, 살처분 현장에 투입된 공무원들은 과로로 사망하거나 정신적 스트레스 때문에 심각한 후유증에 시달리고 있다.

나는 오늘 이 대란에 대하여 한 마디 말하지 않을 수 없다. 살처분에 따른 보상문제는 이야기하지 않을 것이다. 대재앙 수준의 환경문제도 이야기하지 않을 것이다. 내가 이야기하고자 하는 것은 인간과 동물의 철학적 관계이다. 우리의 머릿속을 지배하는 동물관에 지각 변동이 없고서는 이 같은 일은 또 일어날 수 있기 때문이다.

동물은 단지 물건일 뿐인가

마하트마 간디는 "한 국가의 위대함과 도덕성은 그 나라의 동물들이 어떻게 대우받고 있는지를 보면 알 수 있다"고 하였다. 한평생을 성현의 반열에 맞추어 산 그다운 말이다. 그러나 이런 말이 어느 사회나 통용되는 것은 아닐 것이다. 우리 사회에서 아무리 인권을 강조하는 사람이라 할지라도 그것은 오로지 사람에 대한 문제이지 동물에 대해서까지 말하는 것 같지는 않다.

우리 사회에서 동물은 법률적으로 철저히 '물건'으로 취급된다. 물건은 '인권'의 대상이 아니라 사람의 '물권'의 대상이 된다. 그것은 소유와 점유의 객체가 되고, 그 권리자인 인간에게 처분권이 있다. 그것은 다른 물건과 마찬가지로 사용되고 처분되고 심지어는 필요가 없으면 폐기된다. 이것이 사실 350여만 마리의 소와 돼지가 생매장되어도 그냥 넘어가는 이유이기도 하다.

물론 우리 사회는 오랜 기간 불교의 영향을 받아 왔다. 따라서 남다른 생명사상을 가진 사람들도 많다. 이들에게는 살아 있는 생명체는 모두 소중한 것이며 그에 대한 살생은 절대적으로 금기시된다. 하지만 이러한 사상이 현대를 살아가는 우리에게 도통 영향을 끼치지 못하는 것이 현실이다. 동물은 그저 '물건'일 뿐이다.

새로운 패러다임의 탄생

그런데 불교의 영향도 받지 않은 서구에서는 오래전부터 동물에 대한 철학적 논쟁이 있었다. 그 핵심은 동물이 과연 단순한 물건인가의 논쟁이었다. 이 논쟁은 인간중심의 기독교적 신학과도 관계가 깊다. 중세를 살아오는 동안 유럽인들의 머릿속은 하나님이 다른 동물과 특별히 구별하여 만든 존재가 자신이라는 생각이 지배하였다.

그러나 이러한 사고도 르네상스 이후 과학의 발달과 함께 점점 회의하지 않을 수 없는 상황이 되었다. 더욱 진화론적 입장이 과학의 중심에 서면서 오로지 인간만이 '사랑하고 즐기며 고통을 느낄 수 있는 존재'인가에 의문을 갖게 되었다. 수억 년의 진화 속에서 어떻게 갑자기 인류만이 그런 것의 주체가 될 수 있는가에 대한 근본적인 질문이었다.

이러한 회의는 동물을 다시 보게 하는 상황을 만들었다. 무엇인가 다른 패러다임 속에서 인간과 동물의 관계를 만들어 가야 한다는 사상이 싹트기 시작한 것이다. 그리고 이런 흐름은 동물보호와 복지로 이어졌고, 20세기 후반 유럽 사회는 동물보호와 복지에 관한 각종 규범을 만들어 시행하게 되었다. 이제 유럽 국가들은 과학실험에 사용되는 동물, 식용으로 길러지는 동물들 그리고 야생동물들에 훨씬 인간적인 환경을 만들어 주기 위한 프로그램을 실시하고 있다.

종차별주의를 반대하는 <동물해방>



▲ 피터 싱어의 <동물 해방>.
ⓒ 인간사랑

관련사진보기
오늘 우리는 인간과 동물의 관계를 철학적으로 정립할 필요성을 느낀다. 이것은 그저 고답적 도덕철학이 아니다. 왜냐하면 우리가 어떤 동물에 대한 도덕철학을 갖느냐에 따라 이번과 같은 구제역에서 대응이 전혀 달라지기 때문이다.

이 같은 것을 생각하면 오늘 소개하는 철학자 피터 싱어의 동물에 관한 도덕철학은 충분히 음미할 만하다. 피터 싱어는 호주 출신의 도덕철학자로 1975년 그의 주저 <동물해방, Animal Liberation>(김성한 옮김, 인간사랑 펴냄)을 세상에 내놓았다.

<동물해방>은 출판된 이래 동물의 권리(animal rights) 분야의 바이블로 통한다. 그만큼 이 책은 인간과 동물의 관계가 어떻게 되어야 할지 깊은 통찰력을 주는 책이다. 이 책은 동물의 권리를 주장하는 사람에게나 동물의 복지를 주장하는 사람에게나 할 것 없이 자신들의 입장을 철학적으로 전달할 때 필요한 논리를 제공해 왔다.


피터 싱어(Peter Singer)는 누구인가


▲ 피터 싱어(Peter Singer) 홈페이지(http://www.princeton.edu/~psinger)에 소개된 사진.
ⓒ Denise Applewhite/Princet

관련사진보기
피터 싱어(Peter Singer)는 1946년 호주 멜버른에서 태어났다. 그는 호주 멜버른 대학과 영국 옥스퍼드 대학에서 수학했다. 철학자로서 그가 평생 관심을 갖는 것은 실천철학이다. 따라서 그의 철학은 응용철학이라고도 불린다. 그동안 그는 민주주의와 불복종, 안락사, 낙태, 시험관 아기 등과 같은 현대사회에서 매일같이 일어나는 윤리적 문제에 어떻게 대처할 것인가를 고민해 왔다. 동물에 관한 관심사도 그러한 그의 철학 태도에서 나온 매우 현실적인 철학문제이자 윤리문제이다.

그는 <동물해방>을 비롯하여 <민주주의와 불복종>, <실천윤리학>, <범위확장>, <마르크스>, <헤겔>, <동물공장>, <재생산혁명>, <아기가 살아야 하는가>, <이렇게 살아도 괜찮은가?>, <삶과 죽음에 대한 회상>, <세계화의 윤리>,<선과 악의 대통령> 등이 있다.

그는 동물에 대한 철학적 관심을 현실적 운동으로 연결시킨 사람으로 호주 동물권익 옹호단체인 동물해방의 초대 회장과 호주와 뉴질랜드 동물협회연맹 회장을 역임하였다. 그는 현재 프린스턴 대학의 인간가치연구센터의 석좌교수로 재직 중이다.




종차별주의의 역사적 기원

싱어가 말하고자 하는 핵심은 인간의 도덕적 관심에 동물을 포함해야 한다는 것이다. 그는 동물이 단지 인간의 종(species)에 해당하지 않는다는 이유로 차별해서는 안 된다고 한다. 즉, 그의 동물에 대한 도덕철학의 핵심은 종차별주의를 반대함으로써, 종간의 원칙적 평등을 주장하는 것이다.

서구 역사에서 종차별주의의 근원을 찾다 보면 로마와 기독교의 영향을 거론하지 않을 수 없다. 로마제국은 콜로세움 등의 원형경기장에서 허구한 날 투기회를 열어 수많은 동물들(사자, 호랑이, 코끼리, 하마, 코뿔소, 황소, 사슴 심지어는 악어나 뱀들까지)을 사람들의 호기심 속에서 죽였다. 피에 대한 백성들의 갈망이 너무도 강했기 때문에 투기회는 곡식을 분배하는 것보다도 중요한 행사였다.


기독교는 인간의 존엄성을 신성시하였기 때문에 인권의 신장에 크나 큰 기여를 하였다. 그러나 동물과의 관계에서는 인간과 다른 종간의 차별을 공고히 한 종교로서 기록되어야 한다. 종교 중에는 불교와 같이 모든 생명의 신성함을 가르치는 종교도 있지만 기독교는 철저히 인간 중심의 종교이다. 기독교는 오로지 인간의 생명만이 신성하다는 관념을 널리 전파했다. 싱어는 이에 대해 이렇게 말한다.

"… 새로운 교의(기독교)는 여러 면에서 진보적이었으며, 그리하여 로마인의 제한된 도덕적 영역을 엄청나게 확장시켰다. 하지만 인간 아닌 다른 종에 대한 처우와 관련시켜 생각해 볼 때, 그러한 교의는 구약성서에서의 인간 아닌 동물들의 낮은 지위를 더욱 공고히 하고 저하시켰다. 구약성서에는 인간이 다른 종을 지배해야 한다고 쓰여 있지만, 그래도 거기에서는 다른 종들의 고통에 대한 희미한 관심이나마 찾아볼 수 있었다. 하지만 신약성서에서는 동물에 대한 가혹 행위에 반대하는 어떠한 명령도 찾아볼 수 없으며, 동물의 이익을 고려하는 권고 또한 찾아볼 수가 없다." (324쪽)

싱어는 종차별주의가 사실상 인종차별·성차별주의의 연장선에서 이해해야 한다고 한다. 종차별이 도덕적으로 인정될 수 있는 근거는 인종차별이나 성차별과 같이 지적 능력에 대한 그릇된 믿음이었다. 즉, 유색인종은 백인에 비해, 여성은 남성에 비해, 지적 능력이 차이가 있다든지 하는 믿음은 인종차별과 성차별을 정당화한 오도된 믿음이었다.

이와 같은 믿음은 종차별주의에도 그대로 적용되었다. 즉, 인간이 다른 종의 동물에 대해서 차별을 할 수 있는 것은 인간과 그들 간의 지적 능력의 차이 때문이라는 것이다. 동물은 인간에 비해 하등동물이니 거기에 걸맞은 대우를 받는 것은 당연하다는 것이다.

그러나 오늘날 인종차별이나 성차별을 하면서 그 근거로 지적 능력 운운하면 그 사람은 정신이상자에 불과하다. 따라서 종차별주의에도 이러한 새로운 믿음은 동일하게 적용되어야 한다는 것이 싱어의 생각이다. 인간과 동물의 차이를 지적 능력 운운하며 그 차별을 정당화할 수 없다는 것이다. 만일 그것을 인정하면 무뇌아로 태어난 아기는 침팬지보다 그 지능이 못하니 그 생명권을 연장할 이유가 없다. 싱어는 이렇게 말한다.

"설령 좀 더 나은 지적 능력을 소유한다고 해도 자신의 목적을 위해 한 사람이 다른 사람을 이용할 수는 없다. 이것이 사실이라면 좀 더 나은 지적인 능력을 소유하고 있다고 해도 그로 인해 인간에게 인간 아닌 존재를 착취할 권한이 부여되지는 않는 것이다." (41-42쪽)

쾌고감수 존재로서의 동물



▲ 지난 10일 국회 본청 앞에서 열린 구제역 대재앙 비상시국선언대회에 참석한 동물자유연대 회원이 돼지가 생매장 되는 사진 앞에서 고개를 떨구고 있다.
ⓒ 남소연

관련사진보기

종차별주의가 잘못된 도덕관념이라면 그 근거를 어디에서 찾아야 할까. 이것이 바로 <동물해방>에서 싱어가 말하고자 하는 그의 철학의 핵심이다. 도대체 우리는 왜 인간 아닌 존재에게도 평등의 도덕론을 펼쳐야 하는가. 그 대답은 싱어의 공리주의에 있다.

싱어는 공리주의 철학자로 알려져 있다. 그는 쾌락과 고통을 느낄 수 있는 존재(sentient beings, 철학에서는 이를 '쾌고감수 존재'라 한다)의 목표는 쾌락을 극대화하고 고통을 최소화하는 것으로 본다. 따라서 사람 이외의 동물도 최소한 쾌고감수 존재인 한 이러한 공리주의가 적용되지 못할 바가 없다는 것이다.

싱어가 인간 아닌 동물에게도 공리주의가 적용될 수 있다는 논리를 펼 수 있게 된 것은 공리주의의 창시자인 제레미 벤담의 영향이 컸다. 벤담은 일찍이 평등의 개념을 이익의 동등고려(principle of equal consideration of interests)로 이해하였다. 이것은 동일한 이익에는 동일한 고려가 있어야 한다는 원칙이다.

벤담은 이 원칙을 사람 사이에서만 아니라 동물에게까지도 확장될 수 있다는 생각을 하였다. 왜냐하면 동물에게도 고통을 느낄 수 있는 능력은 사람과 다르지 않는 것이고, 그렇다면 동물도 사람과 같이 고려될 이익이 있다는 것이다. 싱어는 이를 이렇게 표현한다.

"고통과 즐거움을 느낄 수 있는 능력은 한 존재자가 이익을 갖는다고 할 때의 필요충분 조건이다. 가령 쥐는 차여서 길에 굴러다니지 않을 이익을 분명 가지고 있다. 왜냐하면 쥐는 차이게 될 경우 고통을 느낄 것이기 때문이다." (43쪽)

공리주의와 동물에 대한 처우

싱어는 한 행동으로부터 기인하는 쾌락과 고통의 총량이라는 차원에서 가치를 계산한다. 이 방법은 소수에게 고통을 줄지라도 다수에게 쾌락이나 고통의 감소를 가져다준다면 이를 허용한다. 따라서 싱어에게 있어서는 동물을 의학적 연구 용도로 사용하는 것은 그것 외에는 다른 방법이 없고 많은 사람을 구하기 위한 것이라면 허용된다. 왜냐하면 이러한 행동에서 비롯되는 '선(good)'이 이것으로 인해 발생하는 동물에 대한 고통을 훨씬 능가하기 때문이다.

하지만 동물을 식이용으로 사용하거나 화장품 시험용으로 사용하는 것은 비도덕적이다. 왜냐하면 그러한 행동에서 비롯되는 '선'은 비교적 경미하고 그것 아닌 다른 방법으로도 목적을 달성할 수 있기 때문이다. 따라서 싱어의 동물에 대한 도덕관은 자연스레 채식주의로 연결된다. 채식을 하면서도 인간이 살 수도 있는데 굳이 동물을 죽여 이를 식용으로 할 필요는 없다는 것이다.

싱어에게 있어서 중요한 것은 동물에게 본질적인 가치를 부여해야 한다는 점이다. 동물은 결코 인간의 목적을 위해 사용되는 수단이 아니라는 것이다. 그렇다고 해서 싱어가 동물이 인간과 동일한 권리를 누릴 수 있다고 보는 것은 아니다. 그는 분명히 종차별주의를 반대하는 것이 모든 생명에 동등한 가치가 있다는 것을 의미한다는 것을 의미하지는 않는다고 말한다.

동물의 본질적 가치는 그 쾌고감수의 정도(sentience level)에 따라 달라져야 하는데, 인간의 경우는 동물이 갖지 못하는 경우(예, 미래에 대한 고통의 예측)라도 고통을 느낄 수 있으므로 다른 동물보다 높은 가치를 지닌다고 할 수 있다. 따라서 불가피하게 과학실험을 해야 한다면 인간에 대한 생체실험보다는 동물에 대한 실험이 낫다. 그것은 인간에 대한 생체실험의 고통이 동물에 비해 더 크기 때문이다. 인간은 생체실험 자체의 고통도 느끼지만 생체실험의 공포에서 오는 고통도 느끼는 존재이기 때문이다.

"… 그런데 인간 아닌 동물을 대상으로 한 동일한 실험은 상대적으로 적은 고통을 야기할 것이다. 왜냐하면 동물들은 납치되어 실험 대상이 될 가능성으로 인해 고통을 느끼지는 않을 것이기 때문이다. 물론 이것이 동물들을 대상으로 하는 실험이 옳다는 것을 의미하지는 않는다. 이는 굳이 실험이 행해져야 한다면, 정상적인 성인보다는 동물을 사용하는 것이 낫다고 말할 이유가 있음을 말하고 있을 뿐이다." (55쪽)

싱어는 인간이라는 이유만으로 인간이 다른 피조물보다 더 높은 가치가 있다고 생각하는 것은 종차별로서 허용될 수 없다고 한다. 싱어에게 있어 현대의 동물해방운동은 19세기 노예해방운동과 같은 선상에 있다. 즉, 인종차별주의를 극복하여 인간해방으로 나간 것과 같이 종차별주의를 극복하여 동물해방으로 나가야 한다는 것이다.

결론적으로 싱어에게 있어 인간을 포함한 모든 동물, 적어도 쾌고감수 능력을 가진 존재는 모두 평등하다. 이것이 싱어가 우리에게 말하고 싶은 그의 동물에 대한 도덕철학의 결론이다.

동물복지론과 동물의 5대 자유



▲ '동물사랑실천협회'가 경기도 이천 대월면 송라리, 군량리 두 곳의 매몰지에서 지난 1월 11일 2천여마리의 돼지를 산 채로 구덩이에 밀어 널어 살처분하는 현장 영상을 공개했다.
ⓒ 동물사랑실천협회 제공

관련사진보기

이제 싱어와 같이 종차별주의에 반대하는 도덕철학이 오늘날 서구에서 어떤 반향을 일으키고 있는지를 알아보자. 나는 최근 몇 년 동안 이 문제에 관심을 갖고 다양한 정보를 수집해 왔다. 그 결과 이러한 새로운 도덕철학은 동물복지론으로 이어졌다는 것을 발견하였다. 복지(welfare)는 통상 '기본적인 욕구가 충족되고 고통이 최소화되는 행복한 상태'라고 정의된다. 따라서 동물복지란 동물에게 이러한 상태를 제공할 인간의 책무를 말한다고 할 수 있다.

유럽에서 동물복지론이 본격적으로 논의되어 제도화된 것은 1960년대 영국의 브람벨(Brambell) 보고서가 나오고 나서부터이다. 영국 정부는 1965년 브람벨 교수에게 농장동물(farm animal) 복지에 관한 전반적 조사를 의뢰하였다. 그 후 영국 정부는 브람벨 보고서에 기초하여 농장동물 복지자문위원회(1967)를 설립하였고 이것은 1979년 농장동물 복지이사회로 발전하였다.

농장동물 복지이사회의 활동 결과 유럽의 여러 나라의 동물(그중에서도 농장동물) 복지의 표준이 된 동물의 5대 자유(Five Freedoms) 개념이 탄생하였다.

① 배고픔과 갈증으로부터의 자유(Freedom from Hunger and Thirst)
농장동물에게 건강을 유지하기 위하여 신선한 물과 음식에 접근할 수 있어야 한다.
② 불쾌감으로부터의 자유(Freedom from Discomfort)
농장동물에게 편안한 축사 등 적절한 환경을 제공해야 한다.
③ 고통, 부상 및 질병으로부터의 자유(Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease)
농장동물에게 고통과 질병에서 벗어날 수 있도록 적절한 처방 및 치료가 주어져야 한다.
④ 통상의 행위를 표현할 수 있는 자유(Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour)
농장동물에게 적절한 공간과 시설에서 살게 하고 같은 종의 농장동물이 어울려 살 수 있도록 해야 한다.
⑤ 공포와 고통으로부터의 자유(Freedom from Fear and Distress)
농장동물에게는 정신적 고통을 피하도록 적절한 환경과 처우를 해야 한다.

위의 개념은 동물 복지의 필요적 기준을 정한 것은 아니다. 이것은 동물 복지의 이상적 상황(best possible standards)을 설정한 것이다. 인간이 동물을 사용하지 않을 수 없지만 그렇다고 해도 사육과정이나 이동과정 혹은 판매과정에서 동물들에게 불필요한 고통을 주지 않도록 위와 같은 상황을 지향해 나가자는 것이다. 동물보호에서 하나의 이념과 이상을 구체화한 것이라 할 수 있다.

유럽의 동물복지정책, 그 현황

위와 같은 배경 속에서 유럽 각국에서는 1960년대 이후 농장동물을 중심으로 동물복지적 관점의 많은 법령이 만들어진다. 유럽에서 이러한 변화를 일으키는 데에는 두 개의 초국가적 기구인 유럽평의회 및 유럽연합(EU)의 역할이 컸다. 이들 초국가적 기구는 농장동물복지를 위한 최소한의 규범을 만들었고, 회원국가에 대하여 그 도입을 촉구해 왔다.

1990년대에 들어와 EU가 창설되고 나서부터 동물보호 및 복지에 관한 EU의 정책은 보다 분명해졌다. 이것은 EU가 그 기본문서에 관련 조항을 명기하는 것에서 알 수 있다. EU는 1999년 발효된 암스테르담 조약을 통해 동물복지에 관한 역사적인 조항을 넣는데 성공한다. 동 조약에서 부속문건으로 채택된 '동물보호와 복지에 관한 의정서'에서 EU는 쾌고감수 존재(sentient beings)로서의 동물을 인정하고 각 회원국들이 그에 걸 맞는 관심을 기울일 것을 요구하고 있다. 세계의 어떤 법도, 조약에도 동물을 이런 존재로 표현한 적은 일찍이 없었다.

EU의 동물복지에 관한 노력은 2004년 체결된 EU헌법 창설을 위한 조약에서 그 본문에 하나의 조항을 넣음으로써 더욱 관심을 받았다. 이 조약 제121조에서는 동물이 쾌고감수 존재임을 인식하고 공동체와 회원국은 농업, 어업, 운송, 국내시장, 기술적 실험 분야 등에서 동물복지적 차원의 최선의 고려를 해야 한다고 규정하고 있다. 이러한 내용은 2007년 EU의 개혁을 지향하면서 체결된 리스본 조약에서도 확인되었다.

그뿐만인가. 국내적 차원에서도 변화는 일어나고 있다. 독일은 2002년 동물의 권리를 헌법에 보장한 세계 최초의 국가가 되었다. 인간의 존엄성을 존중하고 보호하도록 한 헌법 규정들 속에 동물을 추가한 한 것이다. 이런 현상을 제러미 리프킨은 <유러피언 드림>(이원기 옮김)에서 보편적 인권 개념이 동물에게까지 확장된 것이라고 표현하였다.

살처분된 소와 돼지를 위해 우리 모두 천도재를 올리자



▲ 10일 안성 칠장사에서 열린 '구제역·조류독감 종식 발원 및 희생동물 천도제'에서 스님들이 동물 영정을 향해 머리를 숙이고 있다.
ⓒ 안성신문

관련사진보기

내가 동물에 관한 도덕철학과 유럽의 상황을 소개하는 것에 대하여 오해하지 말라. 우리 모두 채식주의자가 되어 동물을 해방하자는 말이 아니다. 나도 그럴 자신은 없다. 단지 쾌고감수의 존재인 동물에 대하여 최소한의 예의를 지키자는 것이다. 그것은 동물의 목숨을 거두는 것을 남용하지 말고, 불가피하게 거둘 때라도 그 고통을 최소화해야 한다는 것이다.

이제 이 글을 맺으면서 다시 우리의 문제로 돌아오자. 구제역 대란에서 보여준 우리 정부의 동물관은 위에서 본 동물에 관한 도덕철학에 비추어 어떻게 평가될 수 있을까. 그 판단은 독자에게 맡기자. 다만 이곳에서는 위에서 거듭나온 철학적 용어 하나만 강조하자. 대한민국에서 키워진 소나 돼지도 쾌고감수의 존재(sentient beings)라는 사실을.

여기에서 비판하지 않을 수 없는 것은 장식적 법률에 불과한 우리의 동물보호법이다. 이 법은 비록 유럽과 같이 동물에 대한 인도적 처우가 세밀하게 규정되어 있지는 못하지만 적어도 그 취지만큼은 국제적 추세와 유사하다. 그러나 그 법률은 있으나마나한 법률, 장식법률에 불과하다.

구제역과 관련한 한 동물보호법 한 조문만 보자. 동물보호법 제11조는 도살 규정인데 "…동물을 죽이는 경우에는… 고통을 최소화하여야 한다"라고 되어 있다. 그런데 이 규정을 위반했다고 해도 아무런 벌칙도 없으니 솔직히 있으나마나한 규정이다. 그런 이유로 정부는 중인환시리에 소와 돼지를 생매장했다. 현행법에 명백한 위법행위를 정부가 버젓이 대낮에 했단 말이다. 나는 이런 정부를 규탄하지 않을 수 없다. '대한민국 정부여, 당신들은 해서는 안 될 일을 그토록 잔인하게 했구려.'

이제 끝을 맺자. 나는 구제역으로 살처분된 350여만 마리의 소와 돼지를 생각할 때마다 콜로세움에서 각종 투기회를 즐긴 잔인했던 로마인들이 생각난다. 우리는 전 국토를 콜로세움으로 만들어 투기회를 즐긴 잔인한 민족이 되었다. 내 비록 채식주의자도 아니요, 특별한 동물애호가도 아니지만 이런 식으로 동물을 대해선 안 된다는 것을 강조한다. 그것은 자연의 이치에도 맞지 않는 것이고, 우리의 최소한의 도덕철학에도 결코 용인될 수 없는 부도덕한 행위이다. 전 국민이 나서 마음속으로 천도재를 지내고 다시는 이런 일이 재발하지 않도록 다짐하는 기회가 되어야겠다.


덧붙이는 글 | 이 글을 쓴 박찬운은 한양대 법학전문대학원 인권법 교수이자 변호사이다.

2018년도 안내자과정 운영안 | 한살림연수원



2018년도 안내자과정 운영안 | 한살림연수원

2018년도 안내자과정 운영안

hansalimedu 2018-03-21 안내자과정




■마음살림 안내자



– 마음살림: 한살림 생활수양활동(한살림수행)의 이름

– 마음살림 안내자: 일상에서 마음살림을 실천하고, 조직에서의 마음살림 활동을 촉진하며, 마음살림 프로그램을 돕는 사람

– 마음살림 안내자의 역할

•일상적인 마음살림 생활 및 활동의 본보기

•자기가 속한 조직에서의 마음살림 활동의 촉진자

•마음살림 프로그램의 (보조) 진행자





■마음살림 안내자 양성과정

– 선발: 선발기준 등 모집요강에 따라 공개모집(2018년은 쉼)

– 교육과정(2년): 1, 2년차(기초 및 심화) 각 36시간 교육/ 프로그램 및 워크숍 참여

– 연구과정(1년): 수료자와 통합공부모임 참여/ 진행안 만들기/ 프로그램 진행보조 참여 등

– 과정 수료 후: 다양한 마음살림 활동 및 모임 운영/ 지속적인 공부모임 참여와 역량 강화/ 필요 시 마음살림 프로그램 보조진행 참여 등



■연차별 양성과정

○1년차 기초과정

1) 목표: 마음살림의 기초를 이해하고 주요 프로그램을 경험한다.

2) 과정: 필수교육 36시간+자율학습+프로그램 참가 2회 이상+공통일정 참여

3) 주요내용
필수교육: 한살림운동과 마음살림, 마음의 과학, 마음살림 프로그램 이해와 연습 등(4~6월, 9~11월. 총 6개월 동안 매월 1일 6시간 6회)
자율학습: 필독서 학습 후 피드백(4~12월)
마음살림 프로그램(마음살림 몸마음돌봄과정_기본 및 깨어나기과정 각1회 이상/모심과정 1회 포함) 연2회 필수 참가(참가비 지원)
공통일정: 안내자 전체 워크숍(3월, 8월), 평가 워크숍(12월)

○2년차 심화과정

1) 목표: 마음살림 이해를 심화하고 주요 공부법을 습득한다.

2) 과정: 필수교육 36시간+자율학습+프로그램 참가 2회 이상+공통일정 참여

3) 주요내용
필수교육: 한살림운동과 마음살림2, 마음의 과학, 심화 프로그램 참여 및 진행역량 기초 등(4~6월, 9~11월. 총 6개월 동안 매월 1일 6시간 6회)
자율학습: 필독서 학습 후 피드백(4~12월)
마음살림 프로그램(마음살림 몸마음돌봄과정_심화 및 깨어나기과정 각1회 이상) 연2회 필수 참가(참가비 지원)
공통일정: 안내자 전체 워크숍(3월, 8월), 평가 워크숍(12월)

○3년차 연구과정

1) 목표: 마음살림 공부법을 체득하고 안내자 역량을 높인다.

2) 과정: 연구과제 수행+자율학습+공부모임 참여+공통일정 참여

3) 연구과제: 마음살림 프로그램/ 모임 진행안 만들기와 연습

4) 주요내용
연구과제 수행: 공부모임 및 프로그램 참여, 자율학습, 개인학습을 통해 수행
자율학습: 연구과제 협력 수행, 개인학습에 대한 상호점검 및 독려 등
공부모임: 수료자 통합모임과 깊은공부모임 참여를 통해 지속적인 동기부여 및 역량 강화
12월 평가워크숍에서 연구과정 결과보고 및 시연/ 다음 해 3월 전체과정 수료식
마음살림 프로그램 참가 시 참가비 지원(연2회)
지역별 마음살림 모임 지원 등 다양한 마음살림 활동 권장
마음살림 프로그램 보조진행 참여
공통일정: 안내자 전체 워크숍(3월, 8월), 평가 워크숍(12월)

○4년차(수료) 이후

1) 3년차 연구과제(진행안 만들기와 연습)는 수료 이후에도 지속

2) 수료자 통합모임과 깊은공부모임 참여를 통해 지속적인 동기부여 및 역량 강화

3) 지역별 마음살림 활동 모색(마음살림 모임 구성, 촉진, 지원 등)

4) 마음살림 프로그램 보조진행 참여

5) 마음살림 프로그램 참가 시 참가비 지원

6) 안내자 전체 워크숍(3, 8월) 참여



※마음살림 안내자 양성과정 필독서

바이런 케이티, [네 가지 질문], 침묵의 향기, 2013
브루스 립튼·스티브 베어맨, [자발적 진화], 정신세계사, 2012
아디야샨티, [깨어남에서 깨달음까지], 정신세계사, 2011
에크하르트 톨레, [지금 이 순간을 살아라], 양문, 2008
.켄 윌버, [무경계], 정신세계사, 2012
장일순, [나락 한 알 속의 우주], 녹색평론사, 2009
스기에 유지/유상용, [사람의 본성에 맞는 사회], 히어나우시스템, 2012
조 디스펜자, [당신이 플라시보다], 샨티, 2016
유인학, [숨 명상 깨달음]
이정훈, [살림행공 안내서], 한살림연수원, 2016

2018/03/29

Brené Brown: Why Human Connection Will Bring Us Closer Together



Brené Brown: Why Human Connection Will Bring Us Closer Together
SEP 12, 2017 @ 08:00 AM 11,429 The Little Black Book of Billionaire Secrets
Brené Brown: Why Human Connection Will Bring Us Closer Together

Dan Schawbel , CONTRIBUTOR Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Benedict Evans


Brené Brown

I spoke to Brené Brown, author of the new book Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, about why we have a crisis of disconnection in society, the importance of a sense of belonging, the difference between true belonging and fitting in, why human interactions trump social media ones and how leaders can create more intimacy with their employees.

Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past sixteen years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of three #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, and Rising Strong. Her TED talk — “The Power of Vulnerability” — is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with more than thirty million views.
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Dan Schawbel: Why do we currently have a crisis of disconnection in our society?

Brené Brown: We’ve sorted ourselves into factions based on our politics and ideology. We’ve turned away from one another and toward blame and rage. We’re lonely and untethered. And scared. Any answer to the question “How did we get here?” is certain to be complex. But If I had to identify one core variable that magnifies our compulsion to sort ourselves into factions while at the same time cutting ourselves off from real connection with other people, my answer would be fear. Fear of vulnerability. Fear of getting hurt. Fear of the pain of disconnection. Fear of criticism and failure. Fear of conflict. Fear of not measuring up. When we ignore fear and deny vulnerability, fear grows and metastasizes. We move away from a belief in common humanity and unifying change and move into blame and shame. We will do anything that gives us a sense of more certainty and we will give our power to anyone who can promise easy answers and give us an enemy to blame.


Schawbel: Why do you believe a sense of true belonging is the solution?

Brown: We’re in a spiritual crisis, the key to building a true belonging practice is maintaining our belief in inextricable human connection. That connection — the spirit that flows between us and every other human in the world – is not something that can be broken; however, our belief in the connection is constantly tested and repeatedly severed. When our belief that there’s something greater than us, something rooted in love and compassion, breaks, we are more likely to retreat to our bunkers, to hate from afar, to tolerate bullshit and to dehumanize others.

Addressing this crisis will require a tremendous amount of courage. For the moment most of us are either making the choice to protect ourselves from conflict, discomfort, and vulnerability by staying quiet, or picking sides and in the process adopting the behavior of the people with whom we passionately disagree. Either way, the choices we are making to protect our beliefs are leaving us disconnected, afraid and lonely. The data that emerged from the research on true belonging can start to connect some of the dots around why we’re sorted but lonely and perhaps contribute new insight into how we can reclaim authenticity and connection.

Schawbel: How do you define “true belonging” and how is this different from “fitting in?”

Brown: The quest for true belonging begins with this definition that I crafted from the data:


True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging does not require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.

True belonging is not passive. It’s not the belonging that comes with just joining a group. It’s not fitting in or pretending or selling out because it’s safer. It’s a practice that requires us to be vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are. If we are going to change what is happening in a meaningful way we’re going to need to intentionally be with people who are different from us. We’re going to have to sign up and join, and take a seat at the table. We’re going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share pain, and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking moments of togetherness.

Its counterintuitive, but our belief in the inextricable human connection is one of our most renewable sources of courage in the wilderness. I can stand up for what I believe is right when I know that regardless of the pushback and criticism, I’m connected to myself and others in a way that can’t be severed. When we don’t believe in an unbreakable connection, the isolation of the wilderness is too daunting so we stay in our factions and echo chambers.

Schawbel: Do you believe that technology has made us feel more isolated, lonely and without a sense of belonging? Why or why not?

Brown: As I started digging into this question with research participants there was very little ambiguity. It became clear that face-to-face connection is imperative in our true belonging practice. Not only did face-to-face contact emerge as essential from the participant data in my research, but studies across the world confirm those findings. Social media are helpful in cultivating connection only to the extent that they’re used to create real community where there is structure, purpose and meaning, and some face-to-face contact. Social media are great for developing community, but for true belonging, real connection and real empathy require meeting real people in a real space in real time.

Schawbel: How can leaders create more intimacy and connection within their teams?

Brown: If leaders really want people to show up, speak out, take chances, and innovate, we have to create cultures where people feel safe —where their belonging is not threatened by speaking out and they are supported when they make the decision to brave the wilderness, stand alone, and speak truth to bullshit while maintaining civility.

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Dan Schawbel is a keynote speaker and the New York Times bestselling author of Promote Yourself and Me 2.0. Subscribe to his free newsletter.

15 Brené Brown: ‘People will find a million reasons to tear your work down’ | Books | The Guardian

Brené Brown: ‘People will find a million reasons to tear your work down’ | Books | The Guardian

Interview
Brené Brown: ‘People will find a million reasons to tear your work down’


By Carole Cadwalladr
Her talks and books about courage have inspired millions – and turned the respected researcher into a ‘celebrity self-help queen’, a label she resents. Carole Cadwalladr meets Brené Brown

@carolecadwalla

Sun 22 Nov 2015 20.

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‘All you can really control is how you feel about what you’ve contributed’: Brené Brown. Photograph: LeAnn Mueller/Contour by Getty Images


Five years ago, Brené Brown was an obscure academic – an associate professor of social work at the University of Houston – and then, overnight, she was famous. She was “the vulnerability woman” or “the shame academic”, and it’s a measure of how much her life has changed that during a whistlestop few days in Britain she has had a private leadership session with banking executives in the City, an evening in front of a capacity crowd at Alain de Botton’s School of Life, an all-day workshop training counsellors in her methodology, and a whole string of interviews to mark the launch of her latest book, Rising Strong.

On the one hand she’s now reaching the kind of audience that most academics can only dream of. On the other she seems, well, a bit exhausted. A photo shoot was scheduled for after my interview, but when I catch up with her in her London hotel she explains that she has pulled out because it was just “too much”. Part of the problem, she says, is that “it’s not me. I’m a researcher. It also… to be totally frank with you, I actually don’t like the cult of personality celebrity stuff around my work at all. It should be about the work, right? I’m not that interesting. The work is really interesting – the work is the research.”

In fact this cuts to the heart of the conundrum that is now Brown’s life. She’s still an academic. But she’s now also an Oprah-approved author who gigs on the global megaspeaker circuit. Making sense of these two things seems to be an ongoing struggle. She hates the words “self-help”, she says. “I don’t know what it means. I don’t think we’re meant to do it alone. And I think I have a really legitimate reflex to those words as a researcher. I do walk through [bookshop] aisles sometimes and say: ‘Jesus, where’s the evidence to support this?’”

And yet the text underneath Rising Strong’s title, plastered across the cover, is pretty unequivocal: “If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall,” it says. “This is a book about getting back up.” She may not want to see herself as a self-help author, but her publishers certainly do. And at least it means people are now reading her work – her last two books were both bestsellers.

And all because, back in 2010, she agreed to give a talk to a few hundred people at a small TEDx event in Texas. It was on her specialist subject: vulnerability and its partner in crime, shame. 


She’s a qualitative researcher, so her work involves interviewing people and listening to their stories, and after hundreds of interviews she thought she’d found some common threads: that connection is the key to everything, but shame – or a fear of disconnection – keeps us from it. She discovered, however, that there was a class of people who simply felt good enough, who weren’t plagued by fear or doubt. And the key, she theorised, is that they were able to be vulnerable. The problem, she realised, was that it didn’t include her. She had been on “a mission to control and predict”, but this had led her to research “which suggested that the way to live is with vulnerability and to stop controlling and predicting”. The result, she told the audience, was a breakdown.

Later she told a friend how embarrassed she was that she’d opened up like that and how terrified she was that the talk would be put online where “up to 500 people” might see it. Or, imagine, a thousand. “My life would be over,” she said. But a few more than that did – the video went viral and now more than 23 million people have watched it. The “warm wash of shame” as she calls it, of not feeling good enough, or smart enough, or thin enough, was something that people everywhere could relate to. And if talking about feelings sounds a bit warm and fuzzy, there’s an edge to what Brown says, a wit. She’s warm, but she’s also forthright and funny. A fifth-generation Texan whose family motto is “lock and load”.

Why do you think it spoke to people so much, I ask her towards the end of our interview. “Interestingly or ironically, the willingness or the courage to articulate what I’m feeling exactly right now,” she says. 


“Which is: do the best work you can and find the courage to put your work out there and know that, no matter what you do, some people are going to like it and some people aren’t. All you can really control is how you feel about what you’ve contributed. The thing was to say out loud how hard that really is: 

‘I want to be brave with my work and I want to be brave with my life.’ People will find a million reasons to tear it down, so you have to be really sure about what you’re doing, because in the end, if you believe in it that’s enough.”

It’s quite a speech – both heartfelt and a bit defiant – and it’s a reaction to a series of questions I’ve asked her. Doesn’t it put too much onus on the individual, I ask. Given that many people have problems – such as being poor – which they can’t necessarily fix by being vulnerable or courageous? And has there been independent research into whether her theories actually work? Because as well as the three books she’s written, she’s also spun two companies out from her research: CourageWorks, an e-learning course, and the Daring Way, a certification course for counsellors. And while it’s understandable that you are uncomfortable with “the cult of personality”, people are buying into your personality, aren’t they? They believe you can help them.

“I have a strong belief in a lot of things,” she says, “like union work, and I don’t know anything about the people who founded them. I’m just more interested in the theory. To me, in many ways I’m the face of it because it’s my work, but I think people have a hard time straddling the tension of the fact that you can be both accessible and a researcher. Especially in this country.”

I don’t know, I say. Daniel Kahneman is an academic, but also a massive seller, I can straddle that tension, but you’ve commercialised your research – you’re offering a course that costs $4,000, so there’s a higher bar. It’s a business, not just a theory, right? It begs different questions.

Her response is interesting: “You’re referring to the Daring Way, but $4,000 plus or minus $100 is what it costs us to put someone through training. The Daring Way was about an ethical decision. How can we make sure we can refer people who understand the research and work from an empirically based practice model? In order to do that we had to get very serious about the vetting, which is unusual for training certification. It’s definitely a labour of love, not commercial.

“And CourageWorks, my other company,” she adds, “is really all about scaling. I was on Necker Island with Richard Branson and a lot of social activists, and at the end he invited a bunch of local high-school seniors. And afterwards Richard asked some of the kids: ‘What could make your life better here?’ Two of them said: ‘Had I grown up in family where my parents had an understanding of what shame was, and how it should or shouldn’t be used as a parenting tool, my life would be different.’ 


I thought: we should be able to do that. We have technology. We should be able to get this everywhere, make learning accessible. And if people find that to be commercialisation, which makes me less of a scholar or less of a contributor, that’s about their stuff.”

Maybe it is about their stuff, or in this case, my stuff. On the one hand she’s dealing with the universals of human experience and has genuinely interesting things to say. On the other there’s the schmaltzy subtitle and the folksy tone of Rising Strong – there’s a lot about “Wholeheartedness”, a term she’s coined, and believing people are Doing The Best That They Can. It’s not my thing, but so what? There’s no doubt she’s reaching a large audience that finds value in what she’s saying.

Brown believes that we are in an “epidemic of shame”, shame that expresses itself in alcoholism and obesity and addiction and debt and medication, but she claims that its expression is gendered. That for men and women the triggers are different. For women it’s about expectations and, often, body image. For men it’s about being perceived as weak.

And yet… and I struggle to put this diplomatically, the presentation of her work seems pretty gendered. Brown’s Instagram page majors heavily on the kind of inspirational quotes in cutesy typography set against pretty pictures that bring me out in a rash. “Show up. Be seen. Be loved,” says a typical one. “#LoveWins”

“I don’t think there is a gender difference in my work,” she says. “Daring Greatly[the last book] had a readership which was about 50/50 men and women. And 75% of the people who invite me to talk to organisations are men. I will tell you, though, in Britain they want to put me on the cover of the book. And there was an article in one of the magazines here, and it was like: ‘America’s got a new self-help queen.’ To which my response is really: ‘Fuck you’, to be honest with you. It’s probably meant to be really nice, but I’m not sure.”

I guess that there’s an impression that there’s a sorority of women who are in this space, I suggest, talking about empowerment, all of whom are on Oprah, and it seems very female-centred, so there’s you and Elizabeth Gilbert and Amanda Palmer

“I think it’s something I wrestle with a lot, because if you go to my talks the majority of the audience is women. Let me go on the record and say if you want to put me in an a room with Elizabeth Gilbert and Oprah and Amanda Palmer, I’ll take that date any day of the week. Amy Cuddy, Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Cain… bring them on – it’s great. I think the response to my work is gendered. I can guarantee this interview wouldn’t be anywhere close to what it’s been if I was a man sitting here. If I was a male researcher sitting here, I would not have to justify the commercialisation of my work. I would not have to justify trying to straddle the economy and popular culture. I would never be asked. Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Dan Ariely, they would not be asked.”

You’re accusing me of being sexist, I point out.

“No, I’m just saying that the response to my work is gendered.”


-------

FacebookTwitterPinterest Daring to speak up: Brené Brown giving her TEDx talk on vulnerability in 2010. The video has been watched 23m times.
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She says it’s funny because right now she’s in a collaboration with a Polaroid photographer, Andrea Corronna Jenkins, “and we’re doing these things called ‘Weekly doses of daring’. I spent a week and a half curating all of her photos for race, for class, for gender, for age. And because I put a pretty image up with words on it… I have to say, it’s super frustrating.”
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What is? “The assumption that the powerful combination of beautiful images and words is just for women. What am I going to have? A bald eagle soaring with a dead rat in its talons with a quote saying: ‘Go work your balls off today, brother’?”

The publicist walks into the room right at that moment and Brown says: “Can we have a bit more time? We’re having a heated debate.”

And then, like women, perhaps, we both hastily backtrack and start heatedly agreeing with each other. The fact is that I like Brown and admire what she’s doing. Her whole schtick is about having the courage to be out there, doing stuff, and she is. I just don’t get on very well with words like “Wholeheartedness”, I say, especially when they’re capitalised.

“Me too,” she says and shrugs.

“It’s your phrase.”

“I don’t use it very much. I’d never say: ‘Wholehearted leadership’, for example.”

We’ve gone way over time. And by the end of it she looks even more exhausted. But she has a bigger issue. “That article that was written about me,” she says at the end. “The one where it said: ‘America Has a New Queen of Self-Help’? I’ve got to tell you, I cried for four hours, because I don’t think they’d ever do that to man who had been a researcher, a scholar, for 13 years. And it’s not unusual for me to be the only female speaker in a day-long list at a corporate event. With a predominantly male audience and to be paid half of what the men are. So I double my fee and then everybody leaps on me. Saying, who do you think you are? You know who I am? I’m the person trying not to vomit into my mouth when I hear what my male counterparts are making. That’s who I am. I’m just trying to stave off the throwing up. It’s difficult, difficult.”

It is. And maybe that could be a new quote for her Instagram page, set against a picture of an eagle with a dead rat in its talons. Brené Brown –Just Trying To Stave Off The Throwing Up.

Rising Strong is published by Vermilion at £12.99. To order a copy for £10.39, go to bookshop.theguardian.com

Brené Brown: 'People are sick of being afraid all the time' | Life and style | The Guardian



Brené Brown: 'People are sick of being afraid all the time' | Life and style | The Guardian




Brené Brown: 'People are sick of being afraid all the time'


Brené Brown is a Texan academic and bestselling author who believes all our relationships would be better and happier if we stopped worrying about ourselves and engaged meaningfully with each other


John-Paul Flintoff

Sat 27 Jul 2013 16.45 AESTFirst published on Sat 27 Jul 2013 16.45 AEST




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Brene Brown: Her Ted talk on vulnerability has been watched by more than six million people worldwide. Photograph: Felix Sanchez


"You can't give children what you don't have yourself," says Brené Brown. "No matter how much importance you place on it." For instance, you can't raise children to be more resilient to shame than you are yourself. "I can encourage my daughter to love her body," she says, "but what really matters are the observations she makes about my relationship with my own body. Damn it. So the question isn't so much, 'Are you parenting the right way?' as it is, 'Are you the adult you want your child to grow up to be?'"

Brown, a Texan academic turned bestselling author, wife, daughter, sister and mother of two, came to prominence after recording a Ted talk in which she argued that to live a full life requires courage – and showing courage means doing things that make you feel vulnerable. It quickly became one of the most successful Ted talks of all time: more than 10 million people have seen it online and shared her message that we should stop worrying about being perfect, accept ourselves as we are, and engage meaningfully with one another.

To a cynical British ear, this may sound embarrassingly new age, but Brown's Ted talk has been embraced by the American military and she's in huge demand as a speaker at global corporations. Neither is she a model of perfection: in a video call from her home in Houston, Brown tells me that she flips people off when she's driving and would instinctively rather punch somebody than make herself vulnerable. But her academic research showed that the shaming culture we live in makes it harder than ever to show courage and be vulnerable – and somebody had to speak out. "People are sick and tired of being afraid all the time. People want to be brave again. So the message is, do it! Get your courage on, but be clear that it won't be easy. It's going to feel like shit."

Researching her latest book, Brown carried out formal academic interviews with 1,280 people. "One of the most powerful experiences I had was asking middle-school children the difference between belonging and fitting in. They said, fitting in is when you want to be part of something and belonging is when people want you just as you are. I get to be me if I belong and I have to be like you to fit in. What was shocking was when they said, 'Miss, it's really hard not to belong at school, but nothing is as painful as not belonging at home.'"
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Without meaning to, parents cause that pain when they allow children to sense the disappointment, embarrassment or indifference they feel towards them. That is something Brown believes we can all learn to minimise, by fighting against the shaming culture we inhabit and teaching children resilience.

We live in a culture with a strong sense of scarcity. "We wake up in the morning and we say, 'I didn't get enough sleep.' And we hit the pillow saying, 'I didn't get enough done.'" We're never thin enough, extraordinary enough or good enough – until we decide that we are. "For me," says Brown, "the opposite of scarcity is not abundance. It's enough. I'm enough. My kids are enough."

If we really believe this, we stop trying to fix everything for them. "If one of my kids is struggling, it feels excruciating to let them go to school and figure it out for themselves. Hope is a function of struggle. People with the highest hopefulness have the knowledge that they can move through adversity. When we take adversity from our children, we diminish their capacity for hope.

"It's tough to step back. I would much rather intervene and fix things myself. If they're struggling with a teacher, I can whip out an email and it's pretty impressive and it takes five minutes. But to sit down and talk to Ellen and let her write the email and proof it with her and talk about how to structure it – that is going to take 45 minutes."

When time itself feels scarce, the temptation is to take the easy, quick option. But Brown describes these everyday opportunities for loving intervention as Sliding Doors moments (after the film) – opportunities we either seize or deliberately avoid. We can avoid them occasionally, but do it too often and relationships suffer, not just between parent and child but between couples.

"If you are always choosing to turn away, then trust erodes in a relationship – very gradually, very slowly. When the people we love stop paying attention, trust begins to slip away and hurt starts seeping in. Disengagement triggers shame and our greatest fears – the fears of being abandoned, unworthy and unloveable. What can make this covert betrayal so much more dangerous than something like an affair is that we can't point to the source of our pain – there's no event, no obvious evidence of brokenness."

To seize every opportunity to show loving commitment would be shattering, wouldn't it? Who, really, has the time? And what if the other person doesn't let you even try? One of Brown's most appealing qualities is that she openly admits to failing frequently at what she encourages others to do – but keeps trying anyway.

Showing courage, in the name of meaningful relationships, is hard work. "And we don't do it perfectly," Brown says. "When we don't, we apologise and make amends." People who don't have the capacity to apologise, she contends, are normally people who never saw their parents apologise, and grew up in an environment that relied on shame rather than guilt. In guilt, we feel that we have done something bad. With shame, we feel we are bad. "Guilt is just as powerful, but its influence is positive, while shame's is destructive. Shame erodes our courage and fuels disengagement."

Happily, her husband Steve, a paediatrician, understands her work and they usually support each other. But arguments are inevitable. "We disagree in front of the children, but a lot of times we will say, 'Your dad and I need to talk to each other right now', and ask for some space. We are comfortable to say we are having difficulty."

Does that worry the children?

"I asked Ellen that the other day, when [Steve and I] were having a little cold war, and she said, 'No, I know you will use your words to work it out.' In fact, I think it can be scary for people who never see their parents argue."

When her daughter was much younger, Brown found herself renegotiating family culture with her own father. "Ellen was three or four. We were in my dad's house and I said 'It's time to turn off the TV', and she said she didn't want to. And my dad bristled. I was not raised like that! From him, I'd have got a look that might mean a spanking. But I said to her, 'I understand you want to watch Dora the Explorer', and so on, and my dad said, 'Dammit, what are you raising, a hostage negotiator?' But the next day I went to see my dad again and I saw him trying to do it. He said to her, 'You have a couple of choices …

"So family culture is not just about parents. It's also grandparents. They matter hugely. We have to talk with them and ask them to avoid saying things like 'shame on you', but without that being received as a criticism of how we were raised ourselves. I have a picture of my grandmother when she was heavily pregnant, with a cigarette and an ashtray on her belly. I don't blame her, any more than I blame my parents for not explaining the difference between shame and guilt."

Brené Brown - Wikipedia



Brené Brown - Wikipedia



Brené Brown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Brené Brown

Born Casandra Brené Brown
November 18, 1965 (age 52)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Occupation

Storyteller
Research Professor
Author
Public Speaker
Licensed Master Social Worker
Language English
Nationality American
Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Master of Social Work
Bachelor of Social Work

Alma mater

University of Houston
University of Texas at Austin
Period 2004–current
Subject Social work
Spouse Steve Alley (m. 1994)
Children 2
Website


www.brenebrown.comwww.braveleadersinc.com



This article relies too much on references to primary sources. Please improve this by adding secondary or tertiary sources. (February 2018)(Learn how and when to remove this template message)


Brené Brown (born November 18, 1965) is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work.[citation needed][1] She has spent the past sixteen years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of four #1 New York Times bestsellers – The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, and Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and The Courage to Stand Alone. Brown's TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 30 million views.[citation needed] In addition to her research and writing, Brown is the Founder and CEO of BRAVE LEADERS INC., an organization that brings evidence-based courage building programs to teams, leaders, and organizations.[citation needed]



Contents [hide]
1Early life and education
2Career
3Honors and awards
4Published works
5Recorded talks
6References
7External links


Early life and education[edit]

Brené Brown was born in San Antonio, Texas, the daughter of Charles Arthur Brown and Casandra Deanne Rogers.[2] She spent a formative period in New Orleans, Louisiana.[3] Brown was baptized in the Episcopal church and then later brought up Catholic.[4] She left the church for two decades, and later returned to it with her husband and children. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1995, followed by a Master of Social Work (MSW) in 1996 and PhD from the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houstonin 2002.[1]
Career[edit]

Brown began her career as a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.[5] Her research focuses on authentic leadership and wholeheartedness in families, schools, and organizations. She presented a 2012 TEDtalk and two 2010 TEDx talks. Brené's TED talk "The Power of Vulnerability" is one of the top five most viewed TED talks, with over 30 million views.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Brown is the author of I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power (Penguin/Gotham, 2007), The Gifts of Imperfection: Letting Go of Who We Think We Should Be and Embracing Who We Are(Hazelden, 2010), Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (Gotham, 2012), Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution. (Spiegel & Grau, 2015), and Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone (2017). Her articles have appeared in many national newspapers.[12]

In March 2013, she appeared on Super Soul Sunday talking with Oprah Winfrey about her new book, Daring Greatly.[13] The title of the book comes from Theodore Roosevelt's speech "Citizenship in a Republic", which is also referred as "The Man in the Arena" speech, given at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910.[14]

Brown has also been interviewed by the author of Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, for Gilbert's Magic Lessons podcast, where she poses the question: "What's worth doing, even if you fail?".

Brown is the founder and CEO of Brave Leaders Inc, an organization that brings evidence-based courage building programs to teams, leaders, and organizations.[15]Brown is also the CEO for The Daring Way, a training and certification program for helping professionals who want to facilitate her work on vulnerability, courage, shame, and empathy.[16]
Honors and awards[edit]

Houston Woman Magazine voted Brown one of Houston's most influential women of 2009.[17] Her 2010 TED talk is one of the most watched talks on the Ted.com website.[14] She has received numerous teaching awards including the Graduate College of Social Work's Outstanding Faculty Award.[18]

In 2016, the Huffington Foundation honored Brown by pledging $2 million over four years to fund the Brené Brown Endowed Chair in the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. This will provide resources to expand Brown's research, as a greater number of social work students pursuing training in grounded theorymethodology will be trained in her research on vulnerability, courage, shame, and empathy.[19]
----------------
Published works[edit]
  • Brown, B. (2017): Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone. 
  • Brown, B. (2015): Rising Strong: The Reckoning, The Rumble, The Revolution.
  • Brown, B. (2012): Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. 
  • Brown, B. (2010): The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. 
-------------
  • Brown, B. (2009): Connections: A 12-Session Psychoeducational Shame-Resilience Curriculum. Center City, MN: Hazelden.[12]
  • Brown, B. (2007): I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power. New York:Penguin/Gotham.[20]
  • Brown, B. (2007): Feminist Standpoint Theory. In S.P.Robbins, P.Chatterjee & E.R.Canda (Eds.), Contemporary human behavior theory: A critical perspective for social work (Rev. ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.[20]
  • Brown, B. (2007): Shame Resilience Theory. In S.P.Robbins, P.Chatterjee & E.R.Canda (Eds.), Contemporary human behavior theory: A critical perspective for social work (Rev. ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.[20]
--------

Recorded talks[edit]

TEDxHouston 2010: "The Power of Vulnerability", June 2010
TEDxKC 2010: "The Price of Invulnerability", August 2010
TED2012: "Listening to Shame", March 2012
Speaker, The UP Experience, Unique Perspectives from Unique People (2009)
"The Power of Vulnerability" — Brown's talk at the Royal Society of Arts (2013)

References[edit]

^ Jump up to:a b "Brené Brown". www.uh.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
Jump up^ Texas Birth Index (2002). "U.S. Public Records Index". Family Search. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
Jump up^ Brown, Brené (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection. Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-59285-849-1.
Jump up^ Lisa Capretto OWN (2015-10-16). "Why Brené Brown 'Abandoned' The Church - And Why She Went Back". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
Jump up^ "Tiptoeing Out of One’s Comfort Zone (and of Course, Back In)". Interview with Brown, New York Times February 11, 2011.
Jump up^ "TEDxHouston - 2010 Speakers". tedxhouston.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
Jump up^ TEDx talk: The Power of Vulnerability – Brené Brown, June 2010
Jump up^ "Dr. Brene Brown TEDxKC Aug 12 2010". Livestream. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
Jump up^ "Brené Brown | Speaker | TED.com". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
Jump up^ TED talk "Listening to shame" – Brené Brown. March 2012
Jump up^ Brené Brown's Biography
^ Jump up to:a b c Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
Jump up^ "Coming Up Sunday: Dr. Brené Brown on Daring Greatly". OWN. 2013-11-03.
^ Jump up to:a b Schawbel, Dan (2013-04-21). "Brene Brown: How Vulnerability Can Make Our Lives Better". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
Jump up^ "Brené Brown | Brave Leaders Inc". Brave Leaders Inc. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
Jump up^ "About - The Daring Way". Retrieved 2016-09-20.
Jump up^ Houston's 50 Most Influential Women for 2009, Houston Women's MagazineArchived April 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
Jump up^ "Brene Brown". Hazeldon. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
Jump up^ "Huffington Foundation Endows Chair for Brené Brown, Social Work Researcher, Author of 'Daring Greatly'". www.uh.edu. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
^ Jump up to:a b c Brown, B. (2008). Profile Archived 2010-09-25 at the Wayback Machine.
External links[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Brené Brown

Brené Brown biography on her official website
Brené Brown blog
"Brené Brown official bio on her website"
"Brené Brown, Faculty Profile". University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.
Brown at the “You Are the Pride” Campaign, University of Houston
Living Smart with Patricia Gras
Brené Brown at TED

Brown. 1] Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead: Brené Brown: 9781592408412: Amazon.com: Books

Daring Greatly: 
Brené Brown

The #1 New York Times bestseller. 1 million copies sold!

From thought leader Dr. Brené Brown, a transformative new vision for the way we lead, love, work, parent, and educate that teaches us the power of vulnerability.

“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 the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”—Theodore Roosevelt

Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable or to dare greatly. Based on twelve years of pioneering research, Dr. Brené Brown dispels the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and argues that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage.

Brown explains how vulnerability is both the core of difficult emotions like fear, grief, and disappointment, and the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, empathy, innovation, and creativity. She writes: “When we shut ourselves off from vulnerability, we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives.”

Daring Greatly is not about winning or losing. It’s about courage. In a world where “never enough” dominates and feeling afraid has become second nature, vulnerability is subversive. Uncomfortable. It’s even a little dangerous at times. And, without question, putting ourselves out there means there’s a far greater risk of getting criticized or feeling hurt. But when we step back and examine our lives, we will find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as standing on the outside of our lives looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena—whether it’s a new relationship, an important meeting, the creative process, or a difficult family conversation. Daring Greatly is a practice and a powerful new vision for letting ourselves be seen.

--
Review


“The brilliantly insightful Brené Brown draws upon extensive research and personal experience to explore the paradoxes of courage: we become strong by embracing vulnerability, we dare more greatly when we acknowledge our fear. I can’t stop thinking about this book.”
—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

"A wonderful book: urgent, essential and fun to read. I couldn't put it down, and it continues to resonate with me."
—Seth Godin, author of Linchpin

"In Daring Greatly, Brené Brown refers to herself as both a mapmaker and a traveler. In my book, that makes her a guide. And I believe the world needs more guides like her who are showing us a wiser way to our inner world. If you'd like to set your course on being more courageous and connected, engaged and resilient, leave the GPS at home. Daring Greatly is all the navigation you'll need."
—Maria Shriver

"Daring Greatly is an important book -- a timely warning about the danger of pursuing certainty and control above all. Brené Brown offers all of us a valuable guide to the real reward of vulnerability: Greater courage."
—Daniel Pink

"What I find remarkable about this book is the unique combination of solid research and kitchen table story-telling. Brené becomes such a real person in the book that you can actually hear her voice asking, "Have you dared greatly today?" The invitation in this book is clear: We must be larger than anxiety, fear, and shame if we want to speak, act, and show up. The world needs this book and Brené’s unique blend of warmth, humor and ass-kicking makes her the perfect person to inspire us to dare greatly."
—Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.
---
"One of the tragic ironies of modern life is that so many people feel isolated from each other by the very feelings they have in common: including a fear of failure and a sense of not being enough. Brené Brown shines a bright light into these dark recesses of human emotion and reveals how these feelings can gnaw at fulfillment in education, at work and in the home. She shows too how they can be transformed to help us live more wholehearted lives of courage, engagement and purpose. Brené Brown writes as she speaks, with wisdom, wit, candor and a deep sense of humanity. If you're a student, teacher, parent, employer, employee or just alive and wanting to live more fully, you should read this book. I double dare you."
—Sir Ken Robinson
---
"In an age of constant pressure to conform and pretend, Daring Greatly offers a compelling alternative: transform your life by being who you really are. Embrace the courage to be vulnerable. Dare to read this book!"
—Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup
---
"Here's the essence of this book: Vulnerability is courage in you but inadequacy in me. Brené's book, weaving together research and Texan anecdote, shows you some paths forward. And don't for a moment think this is just for women. Men carry the burden of Being Strong And Never Weak, and we pay a heavy price for it. Daring Greatly can help us all."
—Michael Bungay Stanier, author of Do More Great Work
---
"I deeply trust Brené Brown--her research, her intelligence, her integrity, and her personhood. So when she definitively lands on the one most important value we can cultivate for professional success, relationship health, parental joy, and courageous, passionate living...well, I sit up and take notice . . . even when that one most critical value turns out to be the risky act of being vulnerable. She dared greatly to write this book, and you will benefit greatly to read it and to put its razor-sharp wisdom into action in your own life and work."
—Elizabeth Lesser, Cofounder, Omega Institute, author of Broken Open


"A straightforward approach to revamping one's life from an expert on vulnerability."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Will draw readers in and have them considering what steps they would dare to take if shame and fear were not present."
—Publishers Weekly

"Offers good insights into how people don personal armor to shield themselves from vulnerability."
—The Wall Street Journal

"Brene's down-to-earth approach to vulnerability resonates with me."
—Katie Couric
---

Some people flip houses. This book will flip your life.
ByHeather Safferon June 25, 2013

Last week I was sitting outside a coffee shop reading a book on my kindle when a youngish guy walked by carrying a coffee and a computer, looking for a place to sit.

Since all of the tables were occupied and he was looking a bit displaced, I offered him a seat at my table. Relieved, he sat down and expressed his gratitude. I promptly went back to my reading but I could feel his eyes boring into me as I anticipated the dreaded question.

"What are you reading?" he finally blurted.

Now I know this is neither a profound nor earth-shattering inquiry but there were two problems at hand here.

One, I'm terrible at summarizing books. Just awful. (Which you're about to discover.) There's just something about the vast amount of information that I'm pressured to wrap into one or two sentences that completely overwhelms and paralyzes me.

And two, I was reading a book about shame and vulnerability. Which ironically, I was ashamed to admit for fear of being vulnerable. Clearly, I had just started reading the book.

Part of me was tempted to lie to youngish guy by replying, "oh, it's just some silly novel."

But then it occurred to me how shameful it would be to lie about reading a book about shame and vulnerability instead of just being vulnerable. Besides, as I'm sure it's obvious--I could use the practice.

"I'm reading Daring Greatly by Brené Brown. It's about shame and vulnerability and how shame can truly only dissipate by allowing yourself to be vulnerable", I quickly blurted.

Allowing myself to be vulnerable led Patrick and I into a conversation for the next hour. Patrick, if you're reading this, c'était une joie pour vous rencontrer. (If this is wrong I blame Google translate.)

This moment of unabashed vulnerability with Patrick was the beginning of a major shift in my life. And I have Daring Greatly to thank for that.*

I've always been one to be honest and open but Brene Brown's writing in Daring Greatly takes openness to another level.

She reinforces what I've known all along but been afraid of admitting--that vulnerability leads to happiness. Or as Brown calls it, "wholeheartedness".
And I, and maybe you too, could damn well use some wholeheartedness in my life.

We're living in a culture of `never enough'. I'm certainly feeling it. Are you? I never work hard enough, I don't help others enough, I'm not successful enough, I don't eat healthy enough... and on and on.

These thoughts of `never enough' turn into feelings of shame and fear. How do we combat shame and fear? By being vulnerable and expressing gratitude, according to Brené Brown. And now, according to me.

Following Brene's advice and expertise garnered through her research and life stories, truly does work.

It was the reading of Daring Greatly that prompted me to finally divulge my long kept secret of my history with an eating disorder; which wound up being my highest trafficked blog post of all time. As Brown explains, we're drawn to other's vulnerability but repelled by our own.

Are you living with shame? Do you always feel an underlying itch of `never enough'? Do you find yourself disconnecting from people you love? If any of these questions ring true then I hope you'll read this book for yourself. Even if they don't ring true, read this book. It truly is a game changer.

Buy It Right. This. Minute. Sit your butt down for an hour, and start reading. I promise you won't want to stop. I promise.Then come back to me and practice your newfound vulnerability. I'll appreciate and love every drop of the real you. And eventually, you will too. That's the truth.

[...]
*If you'll note the vulnerability here in that I'm attempting to review a book, despite my fear of reviewing books.

26 comments| 2,385 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
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5.0 out of 5 stars
This book did an amazing job of helping me understand the difference between sharing ...
ByVirginia123on May 23, 2017

This book was life changing for me. I'd already read Gifts of Imperfection, and have been struggling with having healthy boundaries with a psychologically unhealthy parent.

This book did an amazing job of helping me understand the difference between sharing vulnerability in ways that lead to connection and over-sharing in ways intended to manipulate an audience - and why that oversharing has always led to disconnection.

For the men out there - I'd recommend starting with this book (rather than gifts of imperfection) as Brown broadens her research to include men here. And I really liked the way this book works through so many interesting topics and challenging scenarios.

One of my favorite parts is on professing love vs practicing love (below). It made me appreciate that when someone tells me they love me, then treats me badly, that it isn't really love at all.

<i>During a recent radio interview about my research, the hosts (my friends Ian and Margery) asked me, “Can you love someone and cheat on them or treat them poorly?”

I didn’t have much time, so I gave the best answer I could based on my work: “I don’t know if you can love someone and betray them or be cruel to them, but I do know that when you betray someone or behave in an unkind way toward them, you are not practicing love. And, for me, I don’t just want someone who says they love me, I want someone who practices that love for me every day.”</i>
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A life changer
ByBuddaboy182on February 13, 2016

I admit I had never heard of Dr. Brene Brown until I saw her on the Oprah Winfrey Network about a month ago. I was so intrigued by her that I decided to buy "Daring Greatly," and I'm so thankful I did. I've struggled so much with the issues that she discusses here, but I was never able to understand and verbalize the root causes until I read this book. My quality of life has changed dramatically in a short period of time, so much so that 
I'm now reading "Rising Strong," and 
I'll soon start "The Gift of Imperfection." 
No doubt about it: I will be a lifelong fan and eternally grateful.
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5.0 out of 5 star
My Saving Grace from Toxic Shame
ByAmazon Customeron September 1, 2017

Growing up in a household where obedience is won through criticism, belittling and shaming, it's little wonder I reached adult hood in a poor state of mind and body. With no self-esteem or confidence and full of toxic shame, I wasn't happy with myself in any shape or form. I truly disliked myself, and felt as if everyone else did too. I was a HUGE perfectionist, and very, very hard on myself.

Though I am still a work in progress (I'm 22 currently), I can look back and see how far I've come, and it is all thanks to Brene Brown: her books, her Ted talks, her program, etc. This is my favorite book of hers, though.

If you don't feel worthy of love and belonging, if you feel lesser than everyone else; if you can't forgive yourself for your mistakes or your terrible moments or the stupid things you've done in life; if you can't accept your humanness; if you can't show your face or eyes to others due to shame; if you can't own up to your mistakes for fear of judgement; if you compare yourself to others; if you constantly strive to prove yourself to others but feel as if you never measure up; then this book is for you.

I have read it through and then listened to the whole book about 3 times. I need to be reminded again and again what it means to Dare Greatly, as I have lived most of my life hiding and trying to protect myself. Every time I hear the words in this book, I can't help but say "Yes! Yes! Yes!" over and over again. It all makes such simple sense. I also cannot hear Brene's words - in book or talks - without crying, because they are some of the most beautiful words to my ears there ever was.

We are not in this alone, and our worth is not something that can be measured.

I am planning to get some of her books this Christmas for my family, who all badly need to hear her message and don't bother to look her up despite my urging. I will also have all her books on my shelf someday when I have kids, for them to all read as they are growing up, so that they don't grow up in fear, with low self-worth and full of shame, and to also give them the courage to dare greatly. (Of course I will parent differently than I was raised, and that will make a difference. ;) )

I would give this book a 10 star rating if I could.
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5.0 out of 5 star
Byroflol123on June 6, 2017

Great book! I love Brene Brown and all of her research! It's very interesting to see how shame runs through cultures, homes, friendships, work environments, personal talk, etc. It's incredibly eye opening to acknowledge those things within yourself because once you do, you can't look at a certain part of life the same way when you see that shame was running the show the whole time.
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3.0 out of 5 star
Sounds like her other books
ByThylaneon April 6, 2015

I love Brene Brown. But I got bored about halfway through this book. It sounds like her other books; just with different labels placed on our "issues". Then it was like she ran out of things to say and tried to stretch the page quota out for her publisher. She launched into something about supporting our troops and it felt like she was grasping for evidence to support her "new" way of looking at vulnerability.
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5.0 out of 5 starA great reminder to act from a place of love and to keep going despite negative voices
ByDB Colorson April 15, 2016

Brene Brown is wonderful at giving insights about what it means to have courage and put your ideas/ yourself out there in a critical world. The books helps you realize that you are not alone in your fears, but many people have them but leave them unexpressed to those around them. It gives you perspective on refraining from public judgment of others since you may not know the full context motivating their actions. It is one thing to give and receive critical feedback for improvement and another solely for judgement without benefit to another or society. Brene is wonderful again in sharing stories, as well as, research into finding our internal moral and creative compass so we may give voice in daring greatly in society for ourselves and others.
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5.0 out of 5 stars...
I wanted to read anything I could from this brilliant researcher. She's completely down to earth and shares ...
Bypilatesgirlsocalon April 24, 2016

Having discovered Brene through my Life Coach and watching her Ted Talk that made her famous - I knew I wanted to read anything I could from this brilliant researcher. She's completely down to earth and shares her own stories with that of her research subjects to bring the message home about shame and vulnerability. I'm a Life Coach and have been using Brene's research / findings to assist my own clients in identifying what's standing in their way of being the best version of themselves - and time and time again - it can be traced back to SHAME.... I never realized how powerful this is - as well as the inability to be vulnerable that rules us. Particularly taken with the study of the men and vulnerability - seriously eye opening. A MUST READ.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
This book will change your world.
ByBrockon January 30, 2016

Thank you, Brene, for your research and for sharing your findings with the world. This book is important and this book is for everyone.

She interviewed people from a different angle than our culture is used to. This book is full of ideas I'd never thought of before, but are so relatable and so right. Her main approach is that success and perfection are not our goal- our goal is to live whole-heartedly. To dare greatly. To feel worthiness and human connection. To lean into the hard, understanding that it happens. And it's okay that hard happens. Because if we can be open to discomfort, that's how we'll be open to joy too.

It's impossible to summarize the brilliance of this book in a review. Go read it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this book
ByAmazon Customeron October 24, 2017

I loved this book!
If you want to step up in some area of your life, or have decided you do want to be seen, or if you are facing a challenge, Brene Brown's book about having the courage to be vulnerable and real will help you! So many people appear strong and sorted but actually it's not true. Read this book and you too will be able to Dare Greatly. I have just stepped up in an area of my life that I found so difficult ( the fear of rejection was huge) and I am so happy to have had the courage to do that from reading this book.

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