What did Brené Brown mean when she wrote "Strong back. Soft front. Wild heart."?
When she feels "wobbly and worried", Brown whispers these words to herself. She says, "These words breathe something into me and help me to keep doing the next right thing."
The first time Brené Brown heard the phrase "strong back, soft front", it was with Dr. Joan Halifax at the Omega Institute in NY.
Dr. Halifax explained, "All too often, our so-called strength comes from fear, not love. Instead of having a strong back, many of us have a defended front, shielding a weak spine.
We walk around brittle and defensive, trying to conceal our lack of confidence.
If we strengthen our backs, metaphorically speaking, and develop a spine that's flexible but sturdy, then we can risk having a front that's soft and open.
How can we give and accept care with strong back, soft front compassion, moving past fear, to a place of genuine tenderness? I believe it comes when we can be truly transparent."
Over time, Brown added "wild heart" to the phrase when she wrote about true belonging. True belonging means a daily, spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself, so deeply, that you can share your most authentic self with the world.
>>> Brown explains that true belonging doesn't require you to change who you are, rather it requires you to be who you are.
You're going to need both courage and vulnerability as you head off into this wilderness where you can say "I don't agree" or "I believe this..." Once you find the courage to stand alone and say what you believe, ... the wild has marked our hearts. This is true belonging.
You say "I'm going to belong to myself first and betray myself last."
>>> For more information, listen to Brené Brown's "Unlocking Us" podcast, linked in the bio. The 20-minute episode explains "Strong Backs, Soft Fronts, and Wild Hearts." ...
