Shame hates it when we reach out and tell our story. It hates having words wrapped around it - it can't survive being shared. Shame loves secrecy... When we bury our story, the shame metastasizes.

In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, really seen.

Compassion is not a virtue -- it is a commitment. It's not something we have or don't have -- it's something we choose to practice.

When we lose our tolerance for vulnerability, joy becomes foreboding.

Here's what is truly at the heart of wholeheartedness: Worthy now, not if, not when, we're worthy of love and belonging now. Right this minute. As is.

The only universal language I know of that wraps up joy and gratitude and love is laughter.

Empathy doesn't require that we have the exact same experiences as the person sharing their story with us...Empathy is connecting with the emotion that someone is experiencing, not the event or the circumstance.