Braving the Wilderness

Social scientist Brene Brown argues that people face a spiritual crisis of disconnection in a polarized age, and redefines belonging as something that does not require changing who they are. True belonging, in her account, means belonging so fully to oneself that a person finds something sacred both in being part of something and in standing alone. In a culture of perfectionism and pleasing, it is easy to hide in ideological bunkers or fit in instead of showing up as oneself. Mixing research, storytelling and honesty, she introduces four practices of true belonging. The wilderness of the title is her image for the solitude, uncertainty and criticism of standing alone, which she presents as where true belonging is found.

Humanisation founder Cat Williams-Treloar said it had a large impact on how she behaved as an entrepreneur and gave her confidence when moving from a corporate brand to a startup brand carrying her own face.