Here is a treasure worth sharing.  It is about letting go of who you think you are supposed to be and embracing who you are.

Brene Brown is a research professor at University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She works to make sense of the messiness that is life, tackling the dark emotions that get in the way of leading a full life.

Every day we are barraged with images and messages telling us who, how and what we should be. We are sold the lie that perfection is both necessary and achievable. As we believe the message we also take on board the shadow side of fear, disappointment and shame. Those who are protected have learned to be wholehearted – to have a strong sense of their own worth.

Brene Brown is a great storyteller.  She makes her 10 years of research accessible to us by sharing her own struggles in coming to terms personally with what she discovered.  It changed the way she lives, loves, works and parents.

Listen to her speaking on the power of vulnerability. Her talk lasts for 20 minutes. Give yourself time to hear what she has to say. This is a treat you should not miss.

One of the many take home messages is that we find the most joy in the ordinary moments of life. She encourages us to honour what is ordinary in our lives because that is what is extraordinary.

And the power of the ordinary is that by embracing joy and love with gratitude, we fill our reservoirs with what we need when hard things happen.

Try having a day of gratitude today as you notice all the ordinary moments that give your life meaning. Fill up your reservoir, embrace who you are, and let me know how you get on.