The Power of Vulnerability ranks as my top favourite audio programmes for 2013. I’ve been listening to this audiobook for the third time. The full title is The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings on Authenticity, Connection, and Courage. We need to dare to go against the flow of a society that values productivity over authenticity and be our own authentic selves.

I love audio books and listen to them whilst I am relaxing in the evening. I subscribe to Audible and look forward to my monthly audio book credit. It is a very affordable way to get hold of great programmes like this.

Brenē Brown is both entertaining and profound in her exploration of why we need to become more open and vulnerable if we are to live whole-hearted lives. Brenē illustrates her teachings through frank and amusing stories about her family life and is not too proud to talk about her own failings. This makes her very human and lovable, unlike some teachers who seem to be so perfect that we feel they are a breed apart from the rest of us. Her storytelling approach means that you’ll absorb some key lessons about vulnerability without feeling lectured at or judged in any way. You can follow Brene's work through her site.

The central argument is that modern life has hardened us and made us less sensitive. We watch the news and crime dramas and are fed stories of human tragedies that overwhelm our capacity for compassion so that we close down. We are so focussed on our to-do lists that we forget how to just be. Instead of living rich and warm family lives our loved ones get relegated to the bottom of the list and we imagine we can only ‘goof off’ when all our jobs are done. In reality we don’t get to the bottom of the list, our families miss out and we forget how to play and be creative.

The Power of Vulnerability is about learning to soften and allow enjoyment and love back into our lives. It is about letting ourselves fool around, to stop judging ourselves for ‘wasting time’ playing, just hanging out with our loved ones. It is about paying full attention to our children, our spouses and our friends, with true empathy, not sympathy, not listening with half an ear whilst immersed in our own priorities.

Listening to The Power of Vulnerability can help you explore your whole self and redefine your self worth, not measuring by what you get done or how much money you make, but by who you are and how you live in the world. It is never too late to make changes and create new and more authentic habits. The physical audiobook is available through Amazon or you can download a copy through Audible.