Vulnerability and Shame...

I recently watched a you tube Click on TED about Vulnerability and SHAME from Brene' Brown.  She identifies SHAME as the fear of connection. by VULNERABILITY. (As embedded below)

 In regard to SHAME I have read and heard that SHAME is very large component of community within the First People's of the NATIONS of AUSTRALIA.  However it is as Brene' states not confined toa small group of individuals but it inherent in EVERYBODY who has a capacity to show connection, the only people who were unable to show shame is those who are likely sociopaths.  So the fact that Shame is actually a good thing.

However it has been stated that SHAME within the context of the First Peoples of NATIONS of AUSTRALIA is different as it is stated in:

http://indigenousvoices.cdu.edu.au/support.html

"The concept of shame used by Aboriginal English speakers is broader than the non-Indigenous use of the word. The meaning of shame extends to include embarrassment in certain situations (Leitner & Malcolm 2007:169) and is often due to attention or circumstances rather than as the result of an action by oneself (Vallance & Tchacos 2001). The feeling of shame can totally overwhelm and disempower a person."

 http://www.mhfa.com.au/documents/guidelines/8307_AMHFA_Cultural_guidelinesemail.pdf

 Do not shame the person, their family or community. The concept of shame is very important within many Aboriginal communities and can be a barrier to help-seeking. Shame may also be caused through not practicing cultural safety. Be aware of what language and behaviours cause shame within the person’s community. Understand how the person you are helping might feel shame if you behave a certain way or use
certain words. In some communities, for instance, talking about mental illness can cause individuals to feel shame and therefore, it might be helpful to stick to discussing behaviours and feelings, rather than talking about labels such as “depression” or “psychosis”. Also understand how the community in which you are helping might feel shame. In some more traditional communities, for example, insisting that the person go and
see a non-Aboriginal health worker might be shameful to the community, as it implies that their own ways of healing are inferior to others.
Also be aware that Aboriginal people might feel societal shame, for example, as a result of historical factors such as dispossession of Aboriginal land and domination of culture. It is important to understand that even if you don’t do anything to offend the person, shame might affect their behaviour. For instance, some  Aboriginal people may be afraid of attending a hospital because, historically, being admitted to a hospital with
a mental illness caused shame on family and community.

It is my hope that the sharing of stories and information AND through ongoing dialogue this burden of SHAME can be diminished and people who are overwhelmed can as Brene' suggests lean into the discomfort and although I write in at this time and others in the Context of The First Peoples of the NATIONS of AUSTRALIA I also feel that a great many people who are not First peoples of Australia or other Nations can gain benefit from this shared dialogue.   To share the VULNERABILITY of each of us and stand proud as the Imperfect Huimans that we are and LIVE a Wholehearted Life.

But as suggested by the clip we need to embrace this imperfection within us first and allow it to be present as a PART of us without allowing that part of us to define us.

There is a further Clip from Brene' Brown that is cronilogically set after the first above and where she further explores the concept of SHAME.

I would encourage and recommend the watching of these 2 videos.  I myself gained a great deal of insigh from them and as they have been watched by more than 6 Million people at present I would suggest that  great many others have also watched the clipps and shared these with their friends and colleagues.




However one of the great things about this clips is that I was drawn to watching these after one of my favourite emails newsletters shared a book review of Brene's new Book called "Grounded Theory in action-DEARING GREATLY"

The book review can be seen here: http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/steve-safigan/2012111424620

But the essence of what I wanted to undertake in this post is to share new knowledge that I found useful and to recreate this information in a different context to hopefully allow a different audience to gain the information.

Anyway I will leave you with this information that came directly from Brene's second talk above.

Vulnerability and SHAME is not Weakness but it is the birthplace of  

Creativity, Innovation and Change!!!!!!