Atlas of the Heart: The Bestselling Guide to Understanding our Emotions and Developing Meaningful Connections

by Brené Brown

People will do almost anything to not feel pain, including causing pain and abusing power;

but I’m a social worker before I’m anything else, and “meeting people where they are” is an ethical mandate from this perspective.

Stressed is being in the weeds. Overwhelmed is being blown.

Choosing to be curious is choosing to be vulnerable because it requires us to surrender to uncertainty. We have to ask questions, admit to not knowing, risk being told that we shouldn’t be asking, and, sometimes, make discoveries that lead to discomfort.

Vulnerability is the first thing we look for in other people, and the last thing we want to show them about ourselves.

We experience hope when: We have the ability to set realistic goals (I know where I want to go). We are able to figure out how to achieve those goals, including the ability to stay flexible and develop alternative pathways (I know how to get there, I’m persistent, and I can tolerate disappointment and try new paths again and again). We have agency—we believe in ourselves (I can do this!).