The Courage to Be Seen: Lessons from Brené Brown’s Power of Vulnerability
When Brené Brown first shared her research on vulnerability at TEDxHouston, she cracked something open in all of us. She named what we secretly feared but deeply longed for: to be truly seen, flaws and all.
Her big discovery? Vulnerability is not weakness — it’s courage in action. It’s the birthplace of love, belonging, creativity, and joy.
What struck me most is how closely this aligns with the work I now call authenti-cising — the daily practice of living and working in a way that’s real, sustainable, and aligned with who you are. Vulnerability is the entry point.
Here’s what Brené uncovered, and how we can bring it into our own lives:
Connection is why we’re here. But to build it, we have to risk being seen.
Shame is the enemy. That voice whispering “you’re not enough” keeps us small and silent.
Wholehearted people embrace imperfection. They don’t wait until they’re “ready” — they show up as they are.
Numbing isn’t the answer. When we shut down the hard stuff, we also dull our joy and gratitude.
This is what authenti-cising is about: saying yes to vulnerability, yes to courage, and yes to being messy, magnificent, and fully human.
So, the next time you feel the urge to armour up, remember this: your power is in your willingness to be seen.
Because being real beats being perfect — every single time. ✨
