The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
#cbfbookclub | Book Review
I've read The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown twice now - once in 2018 and once in 2020. And both times I was blown away by how much I could relate to almost every concept in the book.
SCROLL DOWN FOR YOUR FREE READING GUIDE
The first time I read it, I had just begun my journey to a) letting go of control over everything in my life and b) loving myself more. And The Gifts of Imperfection was a perfect companion on that journey.
I realized there was a disconnect between how I wanted to be living and how I actually was living. I wanted this "wholehearted" life the author talks about! I wanted to feel like I could be there for those around AND for myself. I wanted to know that people would still love me even if I wasn't the perfect version of myself all the time.
And even better - the book helped me figure out how to step into that wholehearted living that I was desperately craving!
The second time I read it, I had selected it as the #cbfbookclub pick and wanted to re-read it (1) to create a reading guide for the participants (download yours for free below!) and (2) to make sure I remembered it accurately enough to discuss it in our monthly meetup. I was not prepared for how much I’d get out of it this second reading!
This time, I realized that I was indeed on the path or living more wholeheartedly, but still had some work to do. Like many things in life, it’s a process. One you have to work on consciously and continuously. This read-through reminded me of that and re-inspired me to commit to practicing some of these principles.
Keep scrolling to read more of my review of this book.
WHO’S THIS BOOK FOR?
Read this if you struggle with and want to work on…
perfectionism.
your self-worth.
being more creative & free.
letting go of the “shoulds” in your life and business.
living your true, authentic self.
and more!
Grab your copy of The Gifts of Imperfection on Amazon.
A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK:
Inside The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown takes a deep dive into wholeheartedness. And in the process teaches the reader so much about themselves.
One aspect that I truly appreciated is the focus on research at every point! (I love me some data! If you do too, you'll love the last chapter on how she conducted the research.) I also love how the author shares honestly how surprised she was by the findings and how they shook her to her core.
One of my favorite sections talks about how we need courage, compassion, and connection to fully step into wholehearted living. The courage part especially spoke to me and how our default reactions often aren't courageous, but selfish, survivalist, and primal. We have to consciously work on reacting with our courageous response instead of our default response.
Much of the compassion section deals with loving boundaries for yourself and others. So you know I loved reading this section! In hindsight and after re-reading the book, I think this section probably had a profound influence on how I work with my clients on setting boundaries.
There were so many "ah-ha" moments and "OMG that's me!" moments both times I've read this book. I could go on and on about how this book has impacted me and my work!
But the thing I love most is how the author is able to guide you through looking at nearly every part of yourself in a scant 125 pages. I'm not talking about a scan here. She helps you dive deep and look at some uncomfortable truths about yourself with loving grace. And gives you guidance on how to make changes if you'd like to plus a challenge to DIG deep with yourself - to stay aware, excited, and action-oriented as you make shifts in your life.
This book is one I HIGHLY recommend for basically everyone! Even if you think you're doing a good job at living, I think you'll learn something about yourself with this book.
Bonus, it's a short, digestible read, so you can easily get through it in a weekend or reading a small section each day on your lunch break.
But the real work begins after the book. You've gotta take action and implement these ideas in your life to see the real fruit of a book like this. The author lays the foundation, but you have to build the house.
I've got a reading guide to help you as you process and implement. This 10-page guide includes journal prompts and questions to help you process the concepts in the book and help you implement them in your life and business.
JOIN THE LIVE BOOK CLUB MEETUP
And if you want to chat about this with others, join us in our monthly #cbfbookclub in the month of May to discuss this book! You don't have to finish it to join us, but I do recommend that you read the Preface and Intro at a minimum (both sections are available on the free previews on Kindle and Apple Books).
WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK:
PRINT VERSION:
Check with your local book store!
DIGITAL VERSION:
AUDIO VERISON:
Listen for free on archive.org: https://archive.org/details/GiftsOfImperfection/4-13+About+The+Research+Process+2.m4a
10th Anniversary edition is coming to Audible in August 2020!
Did you know this book was one of the selections for the #cbfbookclub?
ALL ABOUT THE #cbfbookclub:
What is the #cbfbookclub?
It’s an opportunity for you and other biz bosses to read a biz book together with each other and me. We’ll meet to discuss your takeaways and how you can implement the concepts in your own life and biz.
How does it work?
Each month I’ll be picking a book for us to read together. I’ll announce it everywhere - on the podcast, here on the blog, and on social media. Grab your copy and get to reading.
And, if appropriate, I’ll provide a reading guide for you. These reading guides are perfect for helping you process the big ideas of the book and see how you can apply everything to your business specifically.
We’ll get together live on Zoom to chat together about what you learned and what you are doing with that info
How do I sign up for the live book club meetup?
You can get signed up early using the link below. There is a limited number of seats, so sign up early if you know you’ll be there.
Do I have to read the book to come?
Nope! You just have to want to discuss the book and learn how to implement it in your business. But... you Will get more out of the discussion if you at least attempt read the book.
I have other questions...
Send me a DM on Instagram with all of yor questions. I'd love to hear from you!