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Journey 1 (PoV)
The Power of Vulnerability
with Brené Brown

Purpose: To balance your consciousness with the emotional side of life.

About the TED Talk "Power of Vulnerability"

In this video, Dr. Brené Brown talks about what she found from her years of research on  "human connection" ... our ability to empathize, belong, and love.

In this poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her well-documented research that sent her on a personal quest to not only understand herself ... but to understand the reality of how human connection itself works.  ​

Who is Brené Brown?

  • Born 1965

  • She is a professor at the Univ of Houston … and has her Master's Degree in Social Work and her Doctorate in Philosophy.

  • She considers herself a researcher and storyteller who's spent her career studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy.

  • Authored multiple books including five New York Times best-sellers.

  • Her TED talk is one of the top five most-viewed TED Talks in the world.

Watching "The Power of Vunerability" TED Talk

We will watch 9 video clips from the talk, each around 1 to 2 minutes, and then discuss what each clip meant to you ... with no right or wrong answers.

Enjoy exploring, discovering, and awakening to possibilities found on the "Journey Between Your Heart and Soul”.

SHARING Your Thoughts and Questions in the Forums:
I encourage ALL Journey participants to SHARE their inner thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

- And to also take the opportunity to both read and comment on exiting forum posts.

- You may feel uncomfortable creating your first forum post, but please know this is a place where there is no right or wrong ... only acceptance and "SilentKnowing".

- To begin a forum post, click the Forum Button at the bottom any Page Menu.

Vulnerability Definitions

  • Vulnerability means there is a willingness to share one’s emotional pain.

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  • Vulnerability can also refer to a person's openness and willingness to risk being hurt emotionally, as in being willing to love and be loved and to accept the emotional risks that go with it.

Clip #1 Connection (0:54)

Definition: connected with others in kinship, professional, spiritual or emotional ways​

 Take-aways from Clip #1 - Connection

Ronnie's thoughts:

  • Connection is why we are here.

  • Connection gives purpose and meaning to life.

  • It is how we are wired.

OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

Sphere on Spiral Stairs

Clip #2 Shame (2:10)

Definition: the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another

 Take-aways from Clip #2 - Shame

Ronnie's takeaways:

  • When people were asked about Love  ... they talked about heartache.

  • When people were asked about belonging
    … they spoke of the pain of being excluded.

  • When people were asked about Connection … they spoke of disconnection.

  • Why did they feel this way? … they felt shame and fear.

OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

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Clip #3 Worthiness (1:16)

Definition: the fact or quality of having great or adequate merit, character, or value

Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #3 - Worthiness

Ronnie's takeaways:

  • People who have a strong sense of love and belonging feel they are worthy of love and belonging.
     

  • What keeps people out of connection is fear they are not worthy of love and belonging.

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OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

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Clip #4 Wholehearted (2:05)

Definition: completely and sincerely devoted, determined, or enthusiastic soul marked by complete earnest commitment

Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #4 - Wholehearted

Ronnie's takeaways:

  • Courage to be imperfect.

  • Compassion to be kind to themselves first.

  • Connect to others as a result of authenticity.

  • They are willing to let go of who they thought they should be.
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OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

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Clip #5 Embracing Vulnerability (2:04)

Considerations:

  1. Embracing emotional vulnerability and taking emotional risks can lead to personal growth.

  2. Letting your guard down and being fully yourself builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, enhances relationships, and improves quality of life.

  3. Being emotionally vulnerable is a skill you can practice.

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Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #5 - Embracing Vulnerability

Ronnie's takeaways:

  • Those who embraced vulnerability felt what made them vulnerable, made them beautiful.

  • Willingness to say “I love you” first.

OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

Enjoying Outdoor

Clip #6 Numbing Vulnerability (2:38)

Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #6 - Numbing Vulnerability

Ronnie's takeaways:

  1. We struggle with vulnerability and how do we handle it.

  2. We numb vulnerability and our emotions. 

  3. We try to make uncertainty certain.

  4. We blame others and external events.

  5. We can’t selectively numb emotions

OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

Shapes and Shades

Clip #7 Why We Numb Vulnerability (0:59)

Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #7 - Why We Numb Vulnerability

​Ronnie's takeaways:

  1. A need to make everything certain.

  2. Blame is a way to discharge pain and discomfort.

OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

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Clip #8 Perfection (1:38)

Definition: the quality or state of being perfect such as freedom from fault or defect; also the quality or state of being saintly

Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #8 - Perfection

​Ronnie's takeaways:

  1. We want to perfect our children ...
    Let our children know that they are worthy of love and belonging.

  2. We pretend that what we do, does not have an impact on others.

  3. Be able to say “Sorry”

OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

Clip #9 We Are Enough (1:19)

Definition: sufficient to meet a need or satisfy a desire

Group Wisdom Circle on Clip #9 - We Are Enough

​Ronnie's takeaways:

  1. Let yourself be deeply seen.

  2. Love with our whole heart with no guarantee.

  3. Practice gratitude and joy.

  4. To feel vulnerable means you are alive.

  5. “I am enough!”

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OLLI Wisdom Circle Thoughts:
What insights or questions did this video clip spark in you?

Consider sharing your thoughts with the Journey Community by posting them in the appropriate JOURNEY FORUM.

Full TED Talk Power of Vulnerability Video (20:50)

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