From my bookshelf: Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
One of the first books that helped me make peace with standing alone
I first read Braving the Wilderness years ago, before I had language for what I was starting to feel inside: a quiet ache to live with more alignment, even if it meant doing things differently than the people around me. At the time, I didn’t yet know how much of my life would change. Or how much courage it would take to unlearn, reframe, and stand firm in the choices I now make for my health and wellbeing.
What I did know was that something about Brené Brown’s words stayed with me. This book planted a seed: true belonging doesn’t come from fitting in, it comes from showing up as ourselves. Even if it means standing alone. And that idea ended up being more relevant than I could have imagined.
Years later, as I’ve shifted everything from what I eat to how I fast to how I speak about my own healing, I’ve had to stand apart in ways that aren’t always comfortable. But I keep coming back to what I first learned here: courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the commitment to truth. To values. To self-respect.
I didn’t act on its lessons right away. But now, Braving the Wilderness feels like an early stepping stone. One that helped me build the strength to do what I’m doing now.
From my bookshelf
Part of an ongoing series reflecting on the books that helped shape my health and wellness expedition.
→ Learn more and buy this book Bookshop.org to support independent bookstores
→ Browse more titles from my bookshelf