Letting yourself be vulnerable can often be the bravest thing you’ll ever do.
The courage to embrace vulnerability
Nobody really likes feeling vulnerable. When we think about vulnerability we often think of weakness – physical and mental – or of feeling unsafe and unprotected. While it is understandable to want to avoid risk and seek out soothing pleasures, it’s equally important every now and then to embrace your fear of the unknown, to reach out for new experiences, and to lean into your vulnerabilities.
Facing fear: exploring new experiences
Trying something new is always a little bit scary. Whether it’s eschewing your favourite, tried-and-true restaurant in favour of a cuisine you’ve never tasted before, asking a cute new colleague out on a date, or leaving a comfortable job, you have to face some risk. You’re putting yourself out there, exploring new potential, and with that comes the possibility that it won’t work. You might find that you don’t like that new cuisine after all, or your new colleague might be seeing someone already – no matter how politely the decline comes, rejection can still sting.
Embracing vulnerability in relationships
However, it takes a special kind of courage to face that fear, and it’s important to focus on what you may gain from these new experiences, instead of just what you could lose. It might seem trite, but being open to trying new foods or inviting a new person into your life says a lot about the way you treat yourself.
Growth through vulnerability
People who embrace vulnerability welcome new challenges, and by accepting the fact that there are things they do not know or haven’t done before, they always have goals to accomplish and new things to discover. The potential for growth and the potential for failure often are two sides of the same coin, and choosing to face the latter to achieve the former shows incredible strength.
Authenticity & conscious connections
Having the courage to be open with ourselves and embrace our vulnerabilities means we can be our most authentic selves, and this authenticity is essential in creating conscious connections. I was always taught that it’s important to treat others the way you would want to be treated, and we cannot do this until we first know who we are and how we want the world to see us.
Building self-confidence through vulnerability
It might seem counterintuitive, but the more you embrace vulnerability and feeling uncomfortable, the more your self-confidence and ability to expand your comfort bubble will grow.
This article was originally published under the title Embrace Your Vulnerable in Issue 35 – Embrace Your Vulnerable . You can purchase previous issues and enjoy more enchanting content here.
