What does being vulnerable mean and why is it good for the soul? How does it stretch us and allow us to connect and live a full life? Being vulnerable can be looked at as being negative. “But I don’t want to be vulnerable.” It certainly isn’t comfortable. Who was it who said that nothing great ever happens in your comfort zone? We’ve been reading and thinking about vulnerability lately studying the work of Brene Brown. Have you heard of her? She’s a researcher who studies shame and vulnerability. Check out her TedTalk here.
What we are discovering through our reading and listening and thinking about vulnerability, is that in order to have a deep sense of love and belonging, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable. This reminds me of the post on our blog about “The Courage to Grow” and how the brave desert plants that we harvest to create Good Medicine, have the courage to grow in difficult conditions. While they grow they are vulnerable to the harsh desert conditions but they grow anyway. They spread their roots. They are vulnerable. If they didn’t “put themselves out there” so to speak then they certainly wouldn’t flourish like they do, providing healing powers to all of us.
What about “putting ourselves out there?” What healing difference could you make if you let the world see you? What are you holding back because you don’t want to be vulnerable? This is something that is on our minds quite a lot. We are all trying hard to give the world everything we’ve got; to dare to create, be bold, be brave. We wish this for all of you too.
I think Brene Brown said it beautifully when she wrote in her book Daring Greatly, “Daring greatly is not about winning or losing. It’s about courage. In a world where scarcity and shame dominate and feeling afraid has become second nature, vulnerability is subversive. Uncomfortable. It’s even a little bit dangerous at times. And without question, putting ourselves out there means there’s a far greater risk of feeling hurt. But as I look back on my own life and what Daring Greatly has meant to me, I can honestly say that nothing is as uncomfortable, and dangerous, and hurtful as believing that I’m standing on the outside of my life looking in and wondering what it would be like if I have the courage to show up and let myself be seen.”
