The quest for perfection is exhausting and unrelenting. There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how we're supposed to be.

So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgement, criticism and blame by seeking safety in pretending and perfection. But shame resurfaces in many ways, no matter how we try to shield ourselves from it. Addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame are just a few of the outward signs that bestselling author Dr. Brene Brown discovered in a 7-year study of shame's effects on women and hundreds of interviews.

While shame is generally thought of as an emotion relegated to the shadows of our psyche, I Thought it Was Just Me demonstrates the ways in which it actually lingers in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives - from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our friends, our money and our work. Weaving compelling personal narratives and examples from real women with an empowering, judgement-free approach, I Thought it Was Just Me begins a crucial new dialogue of hope.

Brene identifies and explains the key elements that allow women to transform their shame into courage, compassion and connection whilst showing that we are all vulnerable to shame and revealing the gifts that this vulnerability can bring. I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth- Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to better understand ourselves and those around us.