The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto

I recently started listening to Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversation podcast at work, finding it calms me and puts me in a tranquil and spiritual zone that I need for the third trimester. I was excited to come across an episode where Oprah sits with Brené Brown! Some background, I read ‘Braving the Wilderness’ last year and instantly became a fan of Brené’s, continuing on to watch her TEDTalk, follow her on Twitter and eagerly trying to get my hands on all her other work, so imagine how thrilled I was to find this!

In this episode, split into 2 parts (Part 1 titled ‘Daring Greatly’ and Part 2 titled ‘Living with a Whole Heart’), they spoke about vulnerability, confidence, having the ‘hard conversations’ we all avoid and the importance of cultivating creativity, finding wholeheartedness and meaning in what we produce-my cup of tea.

Towards the end, Brené read the beautifully written ‘Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto’ below and I thought it was so important in creating a guideline for our own family. It set the tone for the joyful, healthy family we want to build and I hope it does the same for you…

xoxo

SBJ

The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto

Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and loveable. You will learn this from my words and actions – the lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself.

I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness. You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.

We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both.

We will teach you compassion by practicing compassion with ourselves first; then with each other. We will set and respect boundaries; we will honor hard work, hope, and perseverance. Rest and play will be family values, as well as family practices.

You will learn accountability and  respect by watching me make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how I ask for what I need and talk about how I feel.

I want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude. I want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable.

When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the spirit that is a part of our everyday life.

Together we will cry and face fear and grief. I will want to take away your pain, but instead I will sit with you and teach you how to feel it.

We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here.

As you begin your Wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give to you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly.

I will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly, but I will let you see me, and I will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you.Truly deeply seeing you.

From Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

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