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Embrace Your Vulnerability
When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability…To be alive is to be vulnerable.
-Madeleine L’Engle
Embracing vulnerability is one of the toughest challenges. Being vulnerable means accepting the unknown and uncontrollable. The protective walls of “perfection” are removed. And our authentic self is fully present. While one of the greatest challenges, embracing vulnerability is also one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.
With all the pain and challenges in life, it would seem foolhardy to encourage vulnerability. However, there are benefits to allowing yourself to be open to the unknown and accepting your inability to handle every situation by yourself.
Take a moment to think of a time that you were vulnerable.
Perhaps it was the moment when you first told someone that you loved them? Or maybe it was the last time you experienced problems with your health? Chances are you were apprehensive (or just plain scared) about the outcome. Will the person you love feel the same about you? Will your illness be treatable? While these events leave you open to harm, they can turn out to be positive experiences. Consider the satisfaction of knowing that you are loved in return! Imagine your joy when you learn that you will recover!
If however your vulnerability leaves you wounded, there are still lessons to be learned. Emotional and physical pain can often be the impetus for positive personal change and improvement. In addition, you will likely find yourself surrounded by an unexpected and kindly support system that you may not have realized existed.
Being vulnerable requires trust and faith that, despite the outcome, you will be changed. Vulnerability is not a sign of weakness. Letting your guard down and opening yourself up to whatever comes is a testament of true strength.
Don’t deny your vulnerability – embrace it. It is proof that you are a caring, involved, and strong individual!
I am not a person who likes to be viewed as vulnerable – I usually prefer to be a portrait of strength, stability, and independence. My experiences, however, have taught me that there are times that it is necessary and beneficial to let down my defenses and allow myself to be loved by my support system.
-Jamie Saunders (Perseverance)
- Thought-Provoking Questions
- How do you embrace your vulnerability?
- What words do you associate with “vulnerable?”
- What lessons have you learned about vulnerability?
- Do you feel that crying is a sign of strength or weakness?
- Do you fear feeling vulnerable?
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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Authenticity, Creativity & Inspiration, Perseverance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
5 Responses to “Embrace Your Vulnerability”
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Twitter: carmentorbus
says:
Thought-Provoking Questions
Great post Carolyn. I love your questions at the end…
* How do you embrace your vulnerability? I embrace vulnerability be doing things that require me to get out of my comfort zone and to allow my true self to shine.
* What words do you associate with “vulnerable?” I associate fear, risk, truth, action and success with vulnerability. I think all are necessary to obtain success.
* What lessons have you learned about vulnerability? I wrote about a time when I was feeling vulnerable on my blog a long time ago and I often go back to that post for a reminder of a lesson learned… http://www.carmentorbus.com/blog/2008/12/3/feeling-tender-and-vulnerable.html
* Do you feel that crying is a sign of strength or weakness? Neither. I think it just “is”. Crying is a way some people express an array of emotions.
* Do you fear feeling vulnerable? Not as much as I used to. I recognize it as a sign now and I’m more careful with who I allow myself to be vulnerable with and in which situations.
Hope you’re having a great morning!
xo,
Carmen
Carmen´s last blog ..My very own Ordinary, Sparkling Moment.
Beautiful post here. Thanks for sharing it.
Yes, we do have to embrace our vulnerable (sensitive) side. But we also have to be tough so that we do things that scare us and take risks.
I think we’ve all been hurt either physically or emotionally but the most important thing is to ackowledge the hurt, accept that being vulnerable is part of being human and have another go.
I think we need to hide our vulnerability from most people and present a tough, confident facade. Hopefully if we do that often enough we will get tougher and learn that being hurt isn’t the end of the story.
Twitter: carolynr
says:
Very honest responses Carmen!
[...] in the now, you’re not loving yourself. If you really read Carolyn’s post on how to embrace your vulnerability you can’t help but to believe this vulnerability thing isn’t so bad. You do have a [...]
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