”I thought it was just me (but it isn’t)”, by Brené Brown

In this time of uncertainty, grief, stress, anxiety, anger, and frustration, many people are struggling to discover their “enoughness”.

They are trying to rekindle and reconnect with one another, to find friendships and relationships that nourish and support them.

This book by Brené Brown is about helping you rediscover your faith in yourself. And that process begins, the author tells us, with coming to terms with our shame.

“Shame is something we all experience,” writes Brown. “And while it feels like shame hides in our darkest corners, it actually tends to lurk in all of the familiar places, including appearance, body image, motherhood, family, parenting, money and work, mental and physical health, addiction, sex, ageing and religion.”

You may not think that shame is what shapes your sense of inadequacy, or that it’s the reason you pick the wrong friends or take the wrong turns in life, but it’s right there, making enough noise to distract you.

This book is a guide to building lasting friendships with people who appreciate you for who you are, because you’ve learned to accept yourself.

From the first page, you’re taken on a journey through the concept of shame, how it influences your life and self-belief, and how to become resilient to it.

Once you forgive yourself, you will probably forgive people who’ve hurt you in the past, because you’ll see how their own journey through shame has influenced their perceptions and decisions.

That said, this is not a book for everyone.

You may not want to see shame everywhere or feel empathy for people who stabbed you in the back.

The author also tends to apply the label of shame to what many people would call social anxiety, insecurity, or trauma.

That said, if you want to learn how you can better accept yourself and create richer, lasting friendships, this book is a wonderful place to start.