“A wild heart is awake to the pain in the world, but does not diminish is own pain.”
How can you find and stay true to yourself in today’s world? Day by day, the culture seems to get more and more divided and people stop talking to each other over politics or block people that they used to love dearly on social media. Technology and the 24-hour news cycle are loud and social media lets us shout back loudly with our own thoughts, ideas and opinions. However, the human connection might be getting lost. Braving the Wilderness focuses on how people can reach out and still connect with people – even when you disagree completely.
I had wanted to read Braving the Wilderness a while ago, but it fell off my radar. However, Brene Brown was recently mentioned in a podcast I listened to, so I went and added her book to my holds list for the local library. Braving the Wilderness was available in just a few weeks and was a fairly quick read.
The overarching theme of the book is:
“People are hard to hate close up. Move in. Speak truth to bullshit. Be civil. Hold hands. With Strangers. Strong back. Soft front. Wild heart.”
First, Brown talks about being brave enough to be yourself and not conform just for conformity’s sake. Then, she gives practical steps to create a connection with anyone. We have to spend time with people and talk. We have to really listen. We have to speak up for the truth, but we have to be respectful so a conversation can happen. She gives real-life examples for each of her suggestions from her own life. The simple act of asking someone if they were aware they may have offended you instead of starting off with an accusation full of anger lets a conversation happen. Usually at the end of that, two people know each other better and can see each other’s point of view.
If there was ever a time for a book like Braving the Wilderness, it’s now. I would highly encourage every adult to read and ponder what Brown is suggesting. We need connection more than ever.
How do you connect with people you disagree with? Share on the blog!