What is Wholehearted Living?

Brené Brown inspired me in her book, The Gifts of Imperfection.

I want to live my life wholeheartedly, to go to bed at night knowing that no matter what I accomplished that I was enough, to live a life full of purpose and joy.

Brené Brown Identifies Ten Traits of Wholehearted Individuals:

1. Cultivating Authenticity | Letting go of what people think

2. Cultivating Self-Compassion | Letting go of perfectionism

3. Cultivating a Resilient Spirit | Letting go of numbing and powerlessness

4. Cultivating Gratitude and Joy | Letting go of scarcity and fear

5. Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith | Letting go of certainty

6. Cultivating Creativity | Letting go of comparison

7. Cultivating Play & Rest | Letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol & productivity as self-worth

8. Cultivating Calm and Stillness | Letting go of anxiety as a lifestyle

9. Cultivating meaningful work | Letting go of self-doubt and "supposed" to

10. Cultivating Laughter, Song and Dance | Letting go of being cool and "always" in control

I'm on the lifelong pursuit of cultivating more of the traits on the left and learning to let go of the characteristics on the right.

My value may be to live a life of wholeheartedness, but it does not mean that I never feel fear or shame. It means that I can move through the emotion at a pace that feels right.

I feel lighter and happier. I trust myself more; I am quicker to laugh and love a little deeper.

Every time I re-read The Gifts of Imperfection another layer is lifted. I see my world a little clearer. Every time I learn more about the traits to cultivate or let go, I have a deeper understanding of who I am and the path that I am traveling. I don't know what the future holds, but I have faith that I am on the road that I need to be on.