Brene Brown opened my eyes to vulnerability.
Before her, I thought strong and cool was the way to operate.
Since learning about it and exploring it in my own life, I’ve learned a few things.
I don’t like the way being vulnerable feels. My insides start to heat up and my throat tightens.
These feelings hit me the worst when I am admitting the truth behind a personal weakness or deep seated fear.
But I have also learned the value of being vulnerable.
It is the only way to speak your absolute truth in the moment.
It brings you to a level of acceptance of yourself that turns fear and anxiety into peace and calm.
Vulnerability connects you to humanity in a distinct and deep way that you can’t reach without otherwise.
It takes away the air of perfectionism, slips through the cracks in our armour and imparts our true self, the self we desperately want everyone to see and know, but can’t bare to speak about.
If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to try it.
Look for the real reason why you are so angry or so scared or so sad.
Are you afraid of losing someone?
Do you think you aren’t good enough?
Do you feel unworthy?
Do you feel unloveable?
What if you fail? What if you are rejected, laughed at, or talked about?
What if you don’t live up to another’s ideal?
The vulnerable answer behind these questions will be either be so obvious to you that you haven’t said it, or it will be a surprise to you because you haven’t admitted it even to yourself yet.
Vulnerability is messy and ugly and feels awful.
But it morphs into peace, connection, and acceptance.
I have found vulnerability is the biggest missing piece in me.
“To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees – these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace.” ~ Brene Brown