I interview the most ridiculously extraordinarily wise people for my membership site.
Brene Brown of TED talk fame is my latest.
If you don’t know Brene, you must. Her books are sheer brilliance and she has that wholeness and realness that the world needs.
We meant to talk for 20 minutes. After 70, we had to make ourselves stop.
I excerpted a bit of the video love for you (if you don’t see a video in your email, click here). It’s about Shadow Comforts and numbing out and creativity… hint: if you are want to create and are standing in front of the fridge and eating instead or surfing blogs (hmmmm….) then watch this video.
Part Two of our fab fest will be on Brene’s site soon- still only the tip of our sizzling iceberg (excuse mixed temperature metaphor). The whole sizzler is at the Cafe but of course.
Questions about shadow comforts? Ask away!
P.S.The price of the Cafe goes up to $27 February 5th. Get in now and you pay only $19 for as long as you are a member. Those of you who are sampling the Cafe for free, you got a special invite in your email, be sure and check that first.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Ashley Jackson Jan 28, 2011
I love this. Especially when she told the stories about blaming her husband and about “if only I was 20 lbs thinner I could change a tire” ha! Funny, cause it’s true.
I know this is larger than just eating but I have recently been introduced to Geneen Roth and she talks a lot about how we eat to care for ourselves because we know we aren’t ok, but we aren’t willing to figure out what it is that we really want, so we eat. Is a shadow comfort anything we use to comfort ourselves beside our true need?
2 Jennifer Jan 28, 2011
Ashley, thanks for visiting! A shadow comfort is anything that either doesn’t truly comfort us or reinforces our story we aren’t good. it’s not what we do but how it makes us feel. So chocolate, reDing, shopping, the Internet could all be healthy comfort or shadow – we have to keep checking in to see how it makes us feel about ourselves. Makes sense?
3 Giulietta Nardone Jan 30, 2011
Hi Jen!
I won Brene’s CD last March based on a comment I left on a site having a comment contest.
Just terrific. She could be a stand-up comedienne! Totally related to the “damn you Steve” comment.
Used to blame all sorts of folks for me not taking responsibility for my own life or staying put in completely absurd situations.
It’s way beyond the “folks” and blame level. Blaming sounds so helpless, doesn’t it?
We’re not encouraged to really be self-reliant or we wouldn’t have school and work systems set up like we do. They encourage helplessness under the guise of helping.
Have I digressed from the topic? It’s always fun to do that … Thx, Giulietta
4 Laura Scholes Feb 2, 2011
Oh my god, you two together are the best. (Jen, your unbridled laughter is infectious).
Blame: Discharge of pain and anxiety. Brilliant. But ouch! This is one of the biggest issues I’m dealing with: my quick-to-blame-ness. It’s so unattractive.
I’ve started a fledgling blog about my attempt to become more wholehearted this year (based on Brené’s work). I’d love anyone to come by and visit so I’ll stay honest and post regularly!
http://www.awholeheartedyear.com
Thanks to both of you for your wisdom, joy and honesty.
5 Jennifer Feb 3, 2011
You are so welcome! Look forward to visiting your site!
6 Jennifer Feb 3, 2011
Great digression, totally agree – always working on that blame thing with my daughter… so easy to go there!