Book Club: Rising Strong, Chapter 9

Welcome to the comments and discussion of Chapter 9: Composting Failure of the book, Rising Strong by Brené Brown!  Catch up on Chapter 1: The Physics of Vulnerability,  Chapter 2: Civilization Stops at the Waterline, Chapter 3: Owning Our Stories, Chapter 4: The Reckoning, Chapter 5: The Rumble, Chapter 6: Sewer Rats And Scofflaws, Chapter 7: The Brave And Brokenhearted, and Chapter 8: Easy Mark.

Let’s get started!  Chapter 9!

Mallory:

This chapter talks heavily with how to deal with failure.  Brené Brown lays out the trip falls of shame, guilt, perfectionism, and so much more.

“Perfectionism is not healthy striving.  It is not asking, How can I be my best self?  Instead, it’s asking, What will people think?”

She talks about how we feel when we think that “our cover has been blown” and how to move from shame to vulnerability, accountability, and trust.  Going through young adult cancer is a vulnerable-making event.  If we sit in shame wondering about what people will think, healing and growing become more difficult.  With young adult cancer on the scene, you may not act your best some days.  You may not look your best some days.  Remember to try your best, create an atmosphere of boundaries and safety, and apologize when apologies are due.  Expect your friends and support system to do the same.  With mutual trust and accountability, so many road blocks can be overcome.

—

Thanks for joining us for our Chapter 9: Composting Failure of Rising Strong!  Join in next Monday for Chapter 10: You Got To Dance With Them That Brung You and in the meantime, learn more about the book club commentators!

If you’re just joining us, here are some logistics:

We will talk about a chapter each Monday until the book is done.  Then, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss.  Join in, in the comments every week!  At the end, we’ll have a book club discussion via video chat!  Also, there will probably be spoilers.  Read along with us!

How are you enjoying our young adult cancer book club?