Men walk this tightrope where any sign of weakness illicits shame, and so they're afraid to make themselves vulnerable for fear of looking weak.

We can have courage or we can have comfort, but we cannot have both.

Our stories are not meant for everyone. Hearing them is a privilege, and we should always ask ourselves this before we share: "Who has earned the right to hear my story?" If we have one or two people in our lives who can sit with us and hold space for our shame stories, and love us for our strengths and struggles, we are incredibly lucky. If we have a friend, or small group of friends, or family who embraces our imperfections, vulnerabilities, and power, and fills us with a sense of belonging, we are incredibly lucky.

When they teach [doctors] how to suture, they also teach them how to stitch their self-worth to being all-powerful.

Shame derives its power from being unspeakable...If we speak shame, it begins to wither. Just the way exposure to light was deadly for the gremlins, language and story bring light to shame and destroy it.

Vulnerability is not about fear and grief and disappointment; it is the birthplace of everything we're hungry for.

We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.