Here, Brown presents several personal anecdotes that reinforce her argument that prioritizing honesty and civility is central to ensuring emotional safety. When they encounter points of view that differ from their own, they remain open to other perspectives in a way that fosters a sense of empathy, connection, and belonging.Ĭhapter 5 details the importance of engaging in debates and discussions in civil ways that honor the personal integrity of all parties. That is, their opinions of others are based on actual, person-to-person experiences as opposed to stereotypes or hearsay. In Chapter 4, she notes that interview participants who possess the strongest sense of true belonging remain “zoomed in” to others. In the subsequent chapters, Brown expands upon each of the four components of true belonging. To navigate through the challenges presented by contemporary culture, Brown offers up a retooled application of the seven BRAVING strategies she presented in Rising Strong (2015): boundaries, reliability, accountability, vault, integrity, nonjudgment, and generosity. The resulting anxiety stemming from isolation is amplified by a pervasive sense of fear, which the fault lines of race, gender, and class trigger when exposed. Reviewing old and new data collected from the past 15 years, the author concludes that our society is experiencing a crisis of self-induced separation.
Brown then introduces the four elements of true belonging she identified after conducting grounded theory interviews with research participants.Ĭhapter 3 provides historical context for understanding how and why American society has arrived at its current state of disconnection. In addition to authenticity and self-acceptance, belonging, at times, requires the “courage to stand alone, totally alone” (32). She notes that while her earlier definition of belonging is still relevant, it is incomplete. In Chapter 2, Brown reevaluates her research findings on belonging from The Gifts of Imperfection (2010).
In relating these events, Brown describes how she came to understand how true belonging is a paradox of “being alone but still belonging” and “feeling alone but also strong” (27). She begins with a quote from Maya Angelou, adds anecdotes from her childhood and adult life, and touches on significant events that led her to revisit and expand upon her previous work on the topic. In Chapter 1, Brown provides personal background for her research on true belonging.
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