I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power - Brené Brown

Written by Brené Brown
Read by Lauren Fortgang
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

There’s an existing version of this on the site, but it seems to be a huge file, and there’s complaints that it is incomplete. Don’t worry, this is the whole near-eleven-hour experience.

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“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; Campaign Ambassador, International Campaign to Ban Landmines

“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

“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 North Star

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 its 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 were 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 and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It 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.

As 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.”

Categories: Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Psychology, Gender Studies, Personal Success