Tag: Brené Brown

Kemi Sogunle, Daring Greatly, Magnolia, The School of Life, and a Bible Passage

Kemi Sogunle, Daring Greatly, Magnolia, The School of Life, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on March 24, 2024

Sunday Supplement #150 (March 24th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Embrace vulnerability so that you can be set free from fear.”

– Kemi Sogunle

Book of the Week:

Daring Greatly – Brené Brown

I’ve featured a few Brené Brown quotes and videos in previous Sunday Supplements, but this is the first time I’ve featured one of her books.

Daring Greatly is a New York Times bestseller that delves into vulnerability and shame. It is an excellent self-help book with many gems worth picking up.

Brené Brown highlights Theodore Roosevelt’s The Man in the Arena quote and uses it as a guidepost for overcoming shame, embracing vulnerability, and daring greatly.

For me, the best parts of the book were where Brown broke down the origins of fear, shame, and guilt, which helped me understand how to embrace vulnerability.

I recommend checking out Brené Brown’s talks to get an idea of her work. If you like what she speaks about, check out this book.

Movie of the Week:

Magnolia

Paul Thomas Anderson is probably best known for There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Licorice Pizza, but I think Magnolia is arguably his best film.

Magnolia features an ensemble cast that includes Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Melora Walters, and John C. Reilly.

The film is a mosaic of interrelated characters in the San Fernando Valley attempting to find happiness, forgiveness, and meaning.

I’ve only seen this film a couple of times because it is a tough watch. The acting, directing, and writing are brilliant, though.

I recommend Magnolia with the warning that it is a bit of a downer, but it is a powerful film you’ll likely remember long after watching it.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Importance of Vulnerability | The School of Life

I’ve featured The School of Life in ten previous Sunday Supplements. They make content from psychologies, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people live calmer and more resilient lives.

This video starts by discussing how we often can look to hide from vulnerability to avoid mockery and humiliation. We try to appear more normal or extraordinary than we are.

Ultimately, vulnerability can be a natural route to connection and respect. It’s humanizing and helps us relate to others.

There is a bad type of vulnerability, though, where it seeks to take advantage of others and comes from a selfish place.

This School of Life video is a nice introduction to the topic of vulnerability. I highly recommend their channel.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

– John 14:2

This passage from the Bible has often been claimed to refer to heaven having endless availability to those worthy of a place.

I came across another interpretation that I thought was an interesting metaphor proclaiming that God’s house has many religions/spiritual traditions.

When I consider the overlap between these traditions, this concept of multiple spiritual practices/religions all touching on a similar message seems plausible.

It can be comfortable to exclude others or view those outside your circles as wrong or unsafe. However, we should try to remain vulnerable and open to including other people and ideas.

Try to face your fears, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Jane Howard, City of Thieves, Love Actually, Brené Brown, and an African Proverb

Jane Howard, City of Thieves, Love Actually, Brené Brown, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 18, 2022

Sunday Supplement #84 (December 18th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”

– Jane Howard

Book of the Week:

City of Thieves – David Benioff

David Benioff is probably best known for adapting and bringing Game of Thrones to the screen for HBO. I was curious to look into his writing past, and City of Thieves stood out.

Benioff’s novel was a New York Times bestseller and recaptured his grandfather’s experience of World War II in Russia.

During the Nazi’s siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov gets arrested for looting and thrown into jail along with an army deserter, Kolya.

Instead of execution, Lev and Kayla are given the chance of a pardon if they complete the impossible task of securing a dozen eggs for a Soviet colonel.

The coming-of-age story tells a tale of adventure, strife, companionship, and war and is excellently written by Benioff.

Movie of the Week:

Love Actually

Richard Curtis has a long screenwriting career which includes movies, including About Time, which I featured in Sunday Supplement #34.

That being said, Curtis has only directed a handful of movies. Love Actually is probably his best-known of those few and is a Holiday season classic.

Love Actually follows the lives of eight couples dealing with their various love lives in a loosely connected web of a narrative set during a frantic month of Christmas in London, England.

Not all the storylines involve happy narratives, but there are many laughs and memorable moments throughout the film.

There’s a reason this movie is considered a Holiday classic, and while it might not be a movie to sweep the Oscars, it’s worth checking out.

Brainfood of the Week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfOE5ykj7EQ&t=325s

Know Your Worth and Where You Belong | Brené Brown

I’ve featured Brené Brown in a few previous Sunday Supplements. She is the author of multiple number-one New York Times bestsellers and is an expert on vulnerability, courage, and empathy.

In this video, Brené discusses how our worth and belonging are not negotiated with other people but are carried inside our own hearts. Doing otherwise gives away your belonging.

Brown highlights Maya Angelou’s quote, “You are only free when you realize you belong no place—you belong every place—no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.”

As a social scientist, Brown initially couldn’t grasp the meaning of the quote, knowing that there is suffering in the absence of love and belonging.

The rest of the video highlights Brené’s discovery of what it means to belong. It’s well worth checking out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A family is like a forest; when you are outside, it is dense; when you are inside, you see that each tree has its place.”

– African Proverb

I find it interesting that there tend to be multiple layers with most spiritual passages or quotes from various peoples or traditions.

This African Proverb reminds me not to judge something by its outside appearance. Families, communities, and people, in general, all have sides you can’t see from one perspective.

I also find the proverb shows how a group or community can be strong when they are together.

To maximize the strength of the forest and each tree, I think it’s important to plant the seeds you want around you and to take care of the trees in your woods.

Consider the value of yourself and those around you, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Madeleine Albright, Teacher Misery, Hidden Figures, Brené Brown, and a Japanese Proverb

Madeleine Albright, Teacher Misery, Hidden Figures, Brené Brown, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 26, 2022

Sunday Supplement #59 (June 26th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“It took me a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”

– Madeleine Albright

Book of the Week:

Teacher Misery – Jane Morris

When I decided to pursue teaching, I was given Teacher Misery by one of the teachers I worked alongside.

The book compiles short stories, emails (from students, parents, and administrators), and other essays that paint the ridiculous and sometimes disheartening experience of teachers.

As I read the book, I could see and believe many of the experiences described by Morris and other teachers who anonymously contributed to the book.

I think the book can be outlandish at times and doesn’t take the other party’s perspective in many instances, but I believe the book is a warning for those who think teaching is a straightforward profession or calling.

Jane Morris is a pen-name for the teacher that authored the book. She has worked in education for decades and provides resources on her website to aid all teachers.

The book is an interesting read but not one I’d describe as pleasant. I recommend it to anyone interested or looking to enter the teaching profession.

For a more supportive guide for teachers with some phenomenal advice, I’d recommend The Courage to Be Happy, which I discuss in Sunday Supplement #22.

Movie of the Week:

Hidden Figures

The film Hidden Figures is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA.

Hidden Figures showed the segregation of race and sex at NASA and how Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan had to overcome both.

Taraji P. Henson played Johnson, Janelle Monáe played Jackson, and Octavia Spencer played Vaughan. Each was brilliant in their roles, and Spencer received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal.

The movie went on to show how each woman played a vital role at NASA during the Space Race with the USSR.

One of the strikes against the movie was the argument of a white savior narrative from Kevin Costner’s character, director of the Space Task Group Al Harrison.

I don’t think the moment referred to in the arguments was shot well, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience of the film for me.

The movie was nominated for Best Picture, and writers Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi were nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards.

Brainfood of the Week:

Dr. Bené Brown’s Vulnerability Breakdown | SuperSoul Sunday | OWN

The video recounts one of Brown’s experiences after her TED Talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” went viral.

One night Brown looked at the comments under one of her videos and found some scathing anonymous feedback.

While getting her mind off the internet trolls, she came across Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” quote.

The quote became a catalyst for Brown to move forward on her path. It represented everything she learned about vulnerability in her research—showing up and being seen.

Brown wanted to be courageous and daring like the person in the quote and committed to only taking feedback from people who put themselves in the arena.

Brené Brown went on to be a bestselling author, an expert on shame, vulnerability, and empathy, and has helped others through her podcasts, talks, and appearances.

I’ve featured Oprah Winfrey and Brené Brown in multiple previous Sunday Supplements. Click their tags at the bottom of the page to see other posts with their content highlighted.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Heart to heart.” (以心伝心)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb “heart to heart” means to share your true feelings to connect with another person.

When I look at passages and quotes, I try to think about them in different ways. With this one, I believe it also means that you can only have a deeper connection with someone if you share your true feelings.

For me, to share your true feelings or to be able to achieve “heart to heart,” you must be willing to be vulnerable.

When opening yourself up to be vulnerable, there can be rejection. However, I find there is great power when being vulnerable. Regardless of the outcome, you know that you gave 100 percent.

I think it’s vital to let yourself be seen and heard by yourself as much as others. This Japanese proverb reminds me of how important it is to open your heart for genuine connection.

See and express yourself fully, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Robert Anthony, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, The Banker, Brené Brown, and a Chinese Proverb

Robert Anthony, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, The Banker, Brené Brown, and a Chinese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on March 20, 2022

Sunday Supplement #45 (March 20th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.”

– Robert Anthony

Book of the Week:

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson

You might have seen this book with the bright orange cover at Barnes and Noble. I walked by it, thinking the title was terrible, but it eventually was gifted to me, so I read it.

While there are some messages in the book that I don’t wholeheartedly agree with or think were presented in the best way, there is much wisdom in its pages.

There are many lessons in the book centered around finding the things you want to do, even with the challenges that come with them.

Manson calls out much coddling that happens in modern times and questions the readers on what they are willing to learn about themselves while being brutally honest about the results.

Once we stop running away from self-knowledge and start confronting truths about the situations we find ourselves in, we can move forward with courage, perseverance, responsibility, and curiosity.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck has spent over 244 weeks on the New York Times Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous list. It’s worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

The Banker

Inspired by true events, The Banker tells the story of entrepreneur Bernard Garrett as he becomes one of the first wealthy African American entrepreneurs in the United States.

Garrett was born in Willis, Texas, and later moved to California, where he started to amass a fortune in real estate.

Because of racism in America, Garrett and his partner Joe Morris worked with a working-class white man, Matt Steiner, who pretended to be their business head.

Anthony Mackie stars as Bernard Garrett, with Samuel L. Jackson brilliantly supporting as Joe Morris. Nicolas Hoult also holds his own as Matt Steiner, and Nia Long adds a significant presence as Eunice Garrett.

The Banker received negative press after the sexual allegations against Bernard Garrett’s son and didn’t make much of an impact upon its release.

The film about Bernard Garrett Sr is well-done and tells a story worth seeing and knowing.

Brainfood of the Week:

Brené Brown on Blame

I’ve featured Brené Brown in two previous Sunday Supplements. She is the author of six number-one New York Times bestsellers and is an expert on vulnerability, courage, and empathy.

This video is an RSA (Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce) YouTube clip of Brown talking about what happens when we blame others.

In the animated video, Brown tells a story about her spilling a cup of coffee in the morning and how she immediately blamed her husband.

Her mind created a narrative of how her husband’s actions from the previous night resulted in her spilling the coffee in the morning.

Brown then breaks down the story and uses it to explain the components of blame. Usually, the first thing we want to know is who’s fault something is.

People might even want it to be their fault rather than it being no one’s fault. This thought process gives us some semblance of control.

However, Brown explains how blaming is the discharging of discomfort and pain. There is an inverse relationship with accountability.

While accountability brings vulnerability, where we are willing to reveal how we feel and listen to others’ experience events, blame engages judgment through anger while shutting out other narratives.

When we blame, we miss opportunities for empathy.

The full video is only three minutes long and a good sample of the work of Brené Brown. And RSA’s YouTube page has many other brilliant clips sharing knowledge with over 100 million views.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is halfway there. He who blames no one has arrived.”

– Chinese Proverb

This Chinese proverb exemplifies one of the most important lessons I’ve learned and try to remember whenever I encounter frustration.

Many different wisdom traditions, religions, and cultures have a similar saying or quote to emphasize the importance of seeing things clearly.

When anything happens, we usually craft a narrative around the event. That story we tell ourselves is our perceptions of events and typically triggers our reaction or response.

The Chinese proverb reminds me how crucial it is not to attribute blame. Our narratives are in our own hands, and we decide how to move forward.

Rarely do people try to make mistakes, and blame is an action that doesn’t help anyone. Putting that emotion on yourself or others takes up energy that could be used fruitfully in other ways. That shift in energy takes the past away and shapes your future.

Leave blame behind, think of what you should do next, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Brené Brown, The War of Art, Slumdog Millionaire, Weiyang Xie, and a Rig Veda Passage

Brené Brown, The War of Art, Slumdog Millionaire, Weiyang Xie, and a Rig Veda Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on January 23, 2022

Sunday Supplement #37 (January 23rd, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

– Brené Brown

Book of the Week:

The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield’s life story is incredible. He was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, while his father was stationed in the Navy in 1943. Pressfield graduated from Duke University and joined the Marine Corps afterward.

After his tour in the service, Pressfield bounced around between jobs like advertising copywriter, tractor-trailer driver, oilfield roustabout, and fruit picker. He finally found his calling as an author and screenwriter but experienced periods of homelessness and living out of the back of his car while pursuing his writing career.

In The War of Art, Pressfield details the obstacles he faced in his life and how they led him to find and follow his passion for writing. His book breaks down into three parts: Resistance, Combatting Resistance, and Beyond Resistance. In each section, he titles an example of how each topic can manifest and provides short blurbs of explanation.

The non-fiction/self-help book divides opinions for most readers, but it has a 3.98 rating out of 5 on Goodreads, with over 85,000 reviews. Pressfield is most famous for his novels The Legend of Bagger Vance and Gates of Fire, a book about the Battle of Thermopylae studied at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy.

The War of Art might not be for everybody, but it is worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire narrates the story of an orphan Mumbai teenager who’s a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire as he gets accused of cheating after answering each question correctly.

While the teenager, Jamal, faces each question, he recalls portions of his life story that explain how he knew the answer.

The 2008 film won eight Oscars, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing for Boyle, and Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy.

Leading man Dev Patel missed out on an Academy Award nomination for his performance, but moviegoers and film-lovers didn’t overlook his acting abilities. Patel has gone on to star in many acclaimed movies since his feature debut, including films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Green Knight, and his Oscar-nominated performance in Lion.

Slumdog Millionaire shows the negativity, oppression, criticism, and bribery Patel faces in his stint on the famous show. The ultimate result of his perseverance is a reminder of the blessings of our life’s journeys and what they can teach us.

Brainfood of the Week:

TEDx Talks | Dare to Rewire Your Brain for Self-Compassion | Weiyang Xie

Weiyang Xie is a Staff Psychologist at the University Counseling Center at Notre Dame. When she first came to the US as an international student, she faced adjustment issues, self-doubt, and struggled with anxiety. These issues carried over to her professional life.

Xie’s negative self-talk took over and became overwhelming. She felt trapped in her anxiety and believed that she couldn’t reach her potential. Xie started to look into how this situation developed and found a common component in people’s anxiety being shame.

In this TEDx Talks, Xie discusses the causes and effects of shame in people’s lives and her journey of discovery in this field. She focuses on how neurobiological studies on shame revealed how neural pathways form from the repetition of habitual negative self-talk.

Xie then explains how we can resolve the emotional status quo. Research proves that being compassionate to yourself improves emotional resilience and psychological well-being. This practice helps reduce cortisol levels and lower the levels of depression and anxiety.

Beginning practices like noticing negative self-talk and combatting it with self-compassion can remove the previous mental programming and replace it with healthier thought habits. Motivating yourself through positive self-talk and embracing being a work in progress helps bring positivity for the future.

Xie closes the talk by stating that whatever you are saying to yourself, you listen. Developing positive self-talk is crucial for mental health and well-being.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The human body is the temple of God. One who kindles the light of awareness within gets true light. The sacred flame of your inner shrine is constantly bright. The experience of unity is the fulfillment of human endeavors. The mysteries of life are revealed.”

– A Rig Veda Passage

Many different religions and spiritual practices talk about the light within. For me, this passage from the Rig Veda exemplifies this notion and gives a roadmap for finding that brilliance.

The message starts with the acknowledgment of our bodies holding spiritual power. Whether you believe in God or not, or something else entirely, the body is a miraculous being.

The Rig Veda passage then reveals that listening to your heart and body allows for true light, true knowledge.

There are many ways to translate this passage or gain meaning from the words. It sparks recognition of following your heart and gut and doing your best. When I am in tune with these elements, I find myself happy and with no regrets.

Regardless of spiritual leanings, becoming attuned with your heart and body is something worth cultivating. This passage from the Rig Veda is a brilliant guide and reminder of this practice.

Listen to your heart, be kind to yourself, and have a blessed week ahead!

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