tgif (and thank you)!

It's been a while since I've posted for TGIF, but I think it's time! I'm feeling a little overwhelmed as we try to find our back-to-school-back-to-work groove. We're all still so tired in the mornings and I'm under a deadline for my new book (The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting). If there's one thing I've learned from the research, it's the power of gratitude! When I'm feeling low on joy, it's often because I'm not practicing enough gratitude.

For my TGIF, I want to share something really exciting with you. The Gifts of Imperfection is the #1 creativity book and the #1 spirituality book on Amazon.com right now. When I saw it, I couldn't believe it!

 

I know it won't last forever, but I'm trying to be very mindful about softening into joy and gratitude even when it's simply a moment - even when there are no guarantees about the very next minute. Even when it just means something to me (and the people around me who have to put up with CRAZY while I'm writing). 

So, here's my TGIF for today:

I'm trusting that joy comes in moments that should be celebrated rather than dismissed because they are fleeting.

I'm grateful for your support and your contributions to this community.

I'm inspired by the power of perseverance. I could wallpaper my house in rejection letters from agents and publishers. Most of them started like this:  Dear Dr. Renee Brown,  While shame is an important subject, we're not sure that a book on shame, vulnerability, and worthiness will interest readers. There was one publisher who said they'd consider the book if I'd change it to "People's most embarrassing moments." Blech.

It's been a long, messy, awesome, scary, wonderful 12 years of research and writing. I wouldn't change a thing. Well, I might offer myself some relief on one or two of those really dark days when I felt like a nutty shame resilience evangelist!  

I would love to know what you're trusting, grateful for, and inspired by today! Happy TGIF and thank you from the bottom of my whole heart!