Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

by Brené Brown

There is nothing sweet about packing up. It’s hard physical work and an emotional minefield. Do I keep it? Do I trash it when no one is looking? Should I feel bad? Am I bad? Maybe I should box it all up and let my kids deal with it when it’s their turn?

#1 Places We Go When Things Are Uncertain or Too Much Stress, Overwhelm, Anxiety, Worry, Avoidance, Excitement, Dread, Fear, Vulnerability

#2 Places We Go When We Compare Comparison, Admiration, Reverence, Envy, Jealousy, Resentment, Schadenfreude, Freudenfreude

#3 Places We Go When Things Don’t Go as Planned Boredom, Disappointment, Expectations, Regret, Discouragement, Resignation, Frustration

#4 Places We Go When It’s Beyond Us Awe, Wonder, Confusion, Curiosity, Interest, Surprise

#5 Places We Go When Things Aren’t What They Seem Amusement, Bittersweetness, Nostalgia, Cognitive Dissonance, Paradox, Irony, Sarcasm

#6 Places We Go When We’re Hurting Anguish, Hopelessness, Despair, Sadness, Grief

“Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.”

#7 Places We Go with Others Compassion, Pity, Empathy, Sympathy, Boundaries, Comparative Suffering

#8 Places We Go When We Fall Short Shame, Self-Compassion, Perfectionism, Guilt, Humiliation, Embarrassment

#9 Places We Go When We Search for Connection Belonging, Fitting In, Connection, Disconnection, Insecurity, Invisibility, Loneliness

#10 Places We Go When the Heart Is Open Love, Lovelessness, Heartbreak, Trust, Self-Trust, Betrayal, Defensiveness, Flooding, Hurt

#11 Places We Go When Life Is Good Joy, Happiness, Calm, Contentment, Gratitude, Foreboding Joy, Relief, Tranquility

#12 Places We Go When We Feel Wronged Anger, Contempt, Disgust, Dehumanization, Hate, Self-Righteousness

#13 Places We Go to Self-Assess Pride, Hubris, Humility