BESTSELF™ ICEBREAKER | Life Lessons 05

WHAT BOOK HAS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE AND WHY?

Bar none, "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Dr. Brene Brown had the most profound impact on my life.

I read it at a time my life was falling apart all around me - and I did not have the wherewithal to be anything but completely myself even though I had zero clue who that was! I couldn't fake it anymore. The subtitle appealed to me: "Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are." At the time I had no idea who I was, I had completely lost myself to life as a suburban mum with kids in a multitude of activities and an abusive husband. I was all things to all people but myself.

I didn't know it at the time but I was also suffering the ill effects of severe undiagnosed Hashimoto's disease which had me living in a literal fog.

Ten years ago, this book was my lifeline. It gave me permission to cultivate courage, compassion and connection while allowing myself to accept and embrace my imperfections. Along the way, with this book dogeared, highlighted and completely marked up, I realized that I was enough.

As a result, I addressed all that was wrong: my health and my marriage. I got the right prescription and a divorce. Thank you Dr. Brown!