~ Brené Brown
These words were spoken in a brave talk Brené Brown gave about Daring Classrooms. Make no mistake, some people are teachers in classrooms, but we are all teachers in life’s classroom.
She asks, “How many of you think where you live and work would be better if we could be more vulnerable with one another?”
Be prepared to hear about the four pillars of courage: vulnerability; clarity of values; trust; and rising skills. And be forewarned, she brings up shame.
She asks, “How many of you have tried to make an ethical, right decision in a group that is headed in another direction?”
Be ready to face the fact that racism, poverty, classism, homophobia, and heterosexism are causes of trauma. And trauma is the killer of vulnerability.
Brown says the one thing that kills vulnerability is shame. Most people have a memory of a shaming event at school that caused them to believe something limiting about themselves. We can create a shame-resilient classroom by recognizing the difference between shame and guilt (shame is a focus on self; guilt is a focus on behavior). Shame-prone kids are more likely to drop out of school, struggle with addictions, and are more vulnerable to suicide. Humiliation and embarrassment are another area of important awareness. Shame is, “I deserve this” but humiliation is, “I did not deserve this.” Embarrassment is awareness we are not alone.
The antidote to shame is empathy. Shame cannot survive being spoken. You can move through shame by saying, “This is what happened and I believed it made me a bad person.”
This week, be very aware of this truth: you are a teacher in life’s classroom. Take time to watch Daring Classrooms with Brené and join the revolution so we can all become brave with our lives.
Tips from 5 April 2010 to 6 August 2012 are here: Archived Tips
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Rev. Debra Basham
Voice or text: (269) 921-2217 Email: debra@scs-matters.com http://DebraBasham.com http://ImagineHealing.info http://SurgicalSupport.info Small Changes … Infinite Results™
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~ Mother Teresa |