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  <id>2689871</id>
  <title><![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[1592403352]]></isbn>
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  <description><![CDATA[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? <br/><br/> Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance we might think its 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. <br/><br/> There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that <em>being imperfect</em> is synonymous with <em>being inadequate</em>. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how were supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in <em>pretending</em> and <em>perfection</em>. <br/><br/> Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> 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. <br/><br/> Dr. Brown writes, We need our lives back. Its time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection  the <strong>courage</strong> to be real, the <strong>compassion</strong> we need to love ourselves and others, and the <strong>connection</strong> that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.]]></description>
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  <original_publication_month type="integer">7</original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">2007</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame</original_title>
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    <id>162578</id>
        <name><![CDATA[Brené Brown]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Thu May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon May 04 12:08:47 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 21 13:46:46 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This review may sound strange, but it's only because the author's book and her blog/podcast have taken me into, through and out into a new place.  (shift to personal experience for a moment): I've done a lot of study about shame in world culture.  I've written about it, spoken to women in several co...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54917930">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54917930]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Tue Apr 15 08:20:45 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Apr 15 08:20:49 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It seems like the epidemic that no one wants to talk about. We all try to put this perfect face out to the world. Really, I am the perfect mother, my house is completely clean, I am fulfilled in my job, I am financially successful, I am a perfect size two, I have plenty of time to connect on a deepe...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20216486">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20216486]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20216486]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>64596981</id>
    <user>
    <id>2173957</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Imene]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Randolph, NJ]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2173957-imene]]></link>
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  <isbn>1592402631</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jul 22 19:28:51 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 22 19:31:02 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Every woman, every mother should read this book. I plan to pass it on to my daughter as soon as she is ready for it.<br/>It is a life changing experience to read this book and to realize OMG I am not alone. Everyone has fears, anxiety and there is a key to living with it.<br/>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64596981]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64596981]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>54013853</id>
    <user>
    <id>1044539</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Liz]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1044539-liz]]></link>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/279308.I_Thought_It_Was_Just_Me_Women_Reclaiming_Power_and_Courage_in_a_Culture_of_Shame</link>
  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Sun Apr 26 09:42:26 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Apr 26 09:44:13 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is a great book! Right now I'm enjoying doing a read-along with the author here:<br/><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.ordinarycourage.com/my-blog/category/itiwjm-read-along" title="http://www.ordinarycourage.com/my-blog/category/itiwjm-read-along">http://www.ordinarycourage.com/my-blog/c...</a><br/>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54013853]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54013853]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>45829251</id>
    <user>
    <id>2013066</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Becky]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Diego, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2013066-becky]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/279308.I_Thought_It_Was_Just_Me_Women_Reclaiming_Power_and_Courage_in_a_Culture_of_Shame</link>
  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Mon Feb 09 09:27:42 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Feb 09 09:28:04 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Life changing.  Can be an emotional read though.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45829251]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Kimberly]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Apr 17 14:09:33 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Apr 17 14:09:55 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This book has changed my life. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53050663]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>52624063</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Amalia]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Salt Lake City, UT]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Apr 14 07:27:42 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 31 14:21:10 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Some portions of the book are a little bit repetitive- though I think that is in part a good thing to really hammer home some key concepts.<br/><br/>The principles behind Dr. Brown's ideas are terrific, and her concept of shame theory (and how shame results in these painful, difficult images of wh...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52624063">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>29217452</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Aug 04 10:26:25 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Aug 11 06:40:28 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I am such a fan of Brene Brown, she is amazing.  I saw her speak and read her first book about the research she has done on shame, but this book was even better.  She examines the emotion of shame and the impact that it has on women and looks at the ways in which women build shame resilience.  As a ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29217452">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29217452]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>37915872</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Deirdre]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Nov 16 20:19:38 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jul 04 13:51:01 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Love Brene and her writing.<br/><br/>I bought this for the Moms Day Off retreat, for a presentation on embracing imperfection. Thanks to Brene's read-a-long, her ideas became much less abstract and the book is now a favorite. The first chapter starts out sounding rather academic (focused on defini...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37915872">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37915872]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>55694252</id>
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    <id>1797862</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Keely]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Arvada, CO]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">2689871</id>
  <isbn>1592403352</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">1</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255833104m/2689871.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2689871.I_Thought_It_Was_Just_Me_but_it_isn_t_Telling_the_Truth_About_Perfectionism_Inadequacy_and_Power</link>
  <average_rating>4.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>7</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[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? <br/><br/> Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance we might think its 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. <br/><br/> There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that <em>being imperfect</em> is synonymous with <em>being inadequate</em>. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how were supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in <em>pretending</em> and <em>perfection</em>. <br/><br/> Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> 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. <br/><br/> Dr. Brown writes, We need our lives back. Its time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection  the <strong>courage</strong> to be real, the <strong>compassion</strong> we need to love ourselves and others, and the <strong>connection</strong> that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon May 11 12:32:37 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jun 09 11:25:32 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It felt a bit repetitive, but it did help me become more mindful of compassion, shame, guilt, and perfectionism.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55694252]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55694252]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>53052100</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Renee]]></name>
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  <isbn>1592402631</isbn>
  <isbn13>9781592402632</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/279308.I_Thought_It_Was_Just_Me_Women_Reclaiming_Power_and_Courage_in_a_Culture_of_Shame</link>
  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Apr 17 14:22:03 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Nov 11 13:28:32 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I expected this book to be either too cheesy or powered by feminism, but I found it to be very honest and insightful. It certainly made me think more critically about how I interact with people, what I expect from myself and why people react differently to situations. Definitely worth a periodic re-...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53052100">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53052100]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53052100]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <id>277170</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Karen]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173376775m/279308.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>50</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Thu Jan 22 13:46:45 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Nov 24 18:05:15 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jan 22 13:46:45 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I kept running into Brené in all the right places so we exchanged books. We have a different way of telling the truth about life, but it's a fascinating work and ambitious effort that I admire.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[This is the second book by my professor, Brene Brown. She is a social worker who specializes in shame research and how it impacts the lives of women. ]]></body>
    
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    <body><![CDATA[Read this book.  ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
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    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power]]>
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    <![CDATA[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? <br/><br/> Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance we might think its 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. <br/><br/> There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that <em>being imperfect</em> is synonymous with <em>being inadequate</em>. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how were supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in <em>pretending</em> and <em>perfection</em>. <br/><br/> Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> 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. <br/><br/> Dr. Brown writes, We need our lives back. Its time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection  the <strong>courage</strong> to be real, the <strong>compassion</strong> we need to love ourselves and others, and the <strong>connection</strong> that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.]]>
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    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>An affirming, revealing examination of the painful effects of shame&#151;with new, powerful strategies that promise to transform a woman's abilitiy to love, parent, work, and build relationships.</strong> <p> Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her 6-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives&#151;from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money, and our work. <p> After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown is able to illuminate the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture and explain why we are all vulnerable to shame.  We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. <p> Outlining an empowering new approach that dispels judgment and awakens us to the genuine acceptance of ourselves and others, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> begins a crucial new dialogue of hope. Through potent personal narratives and examples from real women, Brown identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection. Shame is a dark and sad place in which to live a life, keeping us from connecting fully to our loved ones and being the women we were meant to be. But learning how to understand shame's influence and move through it toward full acceptance of ourselves and others takes away much of shame's power to harm. <p> It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are&#151;somehow&#151;just not &#147;enough,&#148; you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.</p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame]]>
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    <![CDATA[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? <br/><br/> Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance we might think its 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. <br/><br/> There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that <em>being imperfect</em> is synonymous with <em>being inadequate</em>. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how were supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in <em>pretending</em> and <em>perfection</em>. <br/><br/> Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> 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. <br/><br/> Dr. Brown writes, We need our lives back. Its time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection  the <strong>courage</strong> to be real, the <strong>compassion</strong> we need to love ourselves and others, and the <strong>connection</strong> that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.]]>
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  <id type="integer">2689871</id>
  <isbn>1592403352</isbn>
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    <![CDATA[I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power]]>
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    <![CDATA[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? <br/><br/> Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance we might think its 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. <br/><br/> There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that <em>being imperfect</em> is synonymous with <em>being inadequate</em>. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how were supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in <em>pretending</em> and <em>perfection</em>. <br/><br/> Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, <em>I Thought It Was Just Me</em> 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. <br/><br/> Dr. Brown writes, We need our lives back. Its time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection  the <strong>courage</strong> to be real, the <strong>compassion</strong> we need to love ourselves and others, and the <strong>connection</strong> that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.]]>
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  <read_at>Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Oct 23 11:57:21 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 23 12:06:20 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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