Shame and Vulnerability

Brene Brown is a shame researcher. She has spent her life defining shame and its symptoms. Not only that but she offers solutions on how to get out of shame and to accept vulnerability. In her TED Talk The Power of Vulnerability she defines shame as "The fear of disconnection." We all need connection with others and yet we are terrified of reaching out and being rejected. This is were vulnerability comes in. We have to be vulnerable with others in a very honest way in order to have connection.
But are we? Do we know how to be vulnerable? Do you know how to acknowledge your fears and shame and be open about those things, and take responsibility for them?
Do we believe we are worthy of connection?
There are too many people out there who have so much shame of who they are that they do not believe they are worthy of being loved and feeling belonging. We have to get out of our heads and stop lashing out every time we come close to being vulnerable. We have to have courage, we must "tell the story of who we are with our whole heart" which is the very definition of courage. Connection requires stepping out of your comfort zone embracing all of who you are and those vulnerable parts of you. Reaching out when there are no guarantees of success is how you find connection.
I would challenge anyone who reads this to read Brene Browns book Daring Greatly. Also watch her TED talks The Power of Vulnerability and Listening to Shame.