The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

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THE
GIFTS OF
Imperfection

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THE
GIFTS OF
Imperfection
Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed
to Be and Embrace Who You Are
by Brené Brown, Ph.D., L.M.S.W.

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Hazel den
Center Ci ty, M i nnesota 55012
hazel den.org
© 2010 by Brené Brown
Al l ri ghts reserved. Publ i shed 2010
Pri nted i n the U ni ted States of Ameri ca
No part of thi s publ i cati on may be reproduced, stored i n a retri eval system, or transmi tted i n any form or by any means—el ectroni c, mechani cal , photocopyi ng, recordi ng, scanni ng, or otherwi se—wi thout the express wri tten permi ssi on of the publ i sher. Fai l ure to compl y wi th
these terms may expose you to l egal acti on and damages for copyri ght i nfri ngement.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brown, C. Brené
The gi fts of i mperfecti on : l et go of who you thi nk you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are / by Brené Brown.
p. cm.
Incl udes bi bl i ographi cal references.
ISBN 978-1-59285-849-1 (softcover)
ISBN 978-1-59285-989-4 (eBook )
1. Sel f-acceptance. 2. Sel f-esteem. I. Ti tl e.
BF575.S37B76 2010
158—dc22
2010016989
Editor’s note
The names, detai l s, and ci rcumstances may have been changed to protect the pri vacy of those menti oned i n thi s publ i cati on.
Thi s publ i cati on i s not i ntended as a substi tute for the advi ce of heal th care professi onal s.
13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5 6
Cover desi gn by Davi d Spohn
Cover i l l ustrati ons by Ni chol as Wi l ton
Interi or desi gn and typesetti ng by Ki nne Desi gn

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To Steve, Ellen, and Charlie.
I love you with my whole heart.

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contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Wholehearted Living
Courage, Compassion, and Connection: The Gifts of Imperfection
Exploring the Power of Love, Belonging, and Being Enough
The Things That Get in the Way