Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.

I can't be paralyzed anymore by the critics. My new mantra is, if you're not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, then I'm not interested in your feedback. You don't get to sit in the cheat seat and criticize my appearance or my work with mean-spiritedness if you're also not in the arena.

Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.

Knowledge is important, but only if we're being kind and gentle with ourselves as we work to discover who we are.

Vulnerability pushed, I pushed back. I lost the fight, but probably won my life back.

If we don’t allow ourselves to experience joy and love, we will definitely miss out on filling our reservoir with what we need when. . . . hard things happen.

You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviors.