A central theme in Brown's work is inspired by a Theodore Roosevelt quote "The Man in the Arena". Legitimately one of my favorite quotes and one that I return to often...mainly because I need the reminder. I need the reminder more often than I'd like to admit... The core idea is that the critic does not count; credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, doing the damn thing and getting their ass kicked in the process. Courage is defined by showing up and being seen when the outcome is uncertain rather than by achieving a perfect result. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ (Guarantee of Failure-oh the joy of failure) -If you choose to be brave and show up in your life or work, you are guaranteed to "๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐๐" at some point. So....let's fumble forward enthusiastically, yeah? ***failure is an inevitable consequence of courage, the criticโs observation of that failure is technically accurate but morally irrelevant to the person striving*** ๐๐ก๐ FOUR ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ There are 4 seats in the "arena" that are always occupied: ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐: The "gremlin" that tells you "you're not enough" or "Who do you think you are" ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: "The voice asking what you are contributing that is original or if your work even matters ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ง: The nightmare of looking at others' work to judge your own value (rather than to inspire) (thief) ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐: specific seat reserved for a parent, a teacher, or a "shitty ex-coworker", spouse, 'frenemy', basically someone we value in some way. ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ค If a critic is not also in the arena/has not been in the arena "getting their ass kicked," their feedback should be eyed carefully. If a critic is sitting in the "cheap seats" (they're not putting their reputation or heart on the line; they're staying safe and small; they're afraid that you won't serve the same role for them), be cautious. The critic is the person who points out how the "strong man stumbles" but they are not the ones who actually risk failure or there's a dependency on you staying in the exact role you have been in because they may have been benefitting and you taking action may require them to change too.....