It’s amazing the space you create and the gift you give people when you show your vulnerable side and open yourself up to let love in. So many of us believe by being vulnerable, we are going to be hurt, rejected, not loved. I used to be like this. Not let people in and let them see how much I was hurting. If I did, I would be admitting I was weak, I needed support, I could not do it on my own. Another rule I made up! Guess what, we don’t have to do it all on our own, we don’t have to put it all on our shoulders and show the world how resilient we are. In the end, we end up getting ill from the negative energy we build up inside and carry round.
A couple of months ago, I received some bad news. My initial reaction was to close the doors and go to my cave. Deal with the issue internally and show the world I was fine and everything was dandy. But inside I was crumbling, scared and a mess. After some gentle nudging, I ‘opened up’ and told those close to me but again I was very factual and non emotional. Hey, it was a step in the right direction! What completely took me by surprise was at the end of a night out with some very dear friends, I became fully and utterly vulnerable in their presence. I let my guard down, broke down and told them how I truly felt and how much I needed them. The emotional supportive response I got from them was so, so, so powerful. For me to stand ‘naked’ in front of them, so to speak, and be allowed to be me and be held and loved and supported, took my breath away. I had not planned on doing this, it just happened, as most wonderful things do and it felt so right. Their support and courage gives me so much strength and I know I am not alone going through this.
How freeing would it be so say ‘i am not perfect and so what’ and to say, ‘i am in pain’, ‘i need your help’. Go on, try it. Let a loved one in to what is going on with you today. Share with them your pain and overwhelm. It’s very lonely doing everything on your own. We are not meant to be on our own. We are human beings and love to help and feel needed and need to be helped, held and supported.
Deepen a connection with someone today and let them in.
This is beautiful, thank you Sonia. I really felt you in your words: “I let my guard down… told them… how much I needed them.”
Very touching.
I find vulnerability to be the most attractive quality out there. And when I risk showing people the real me I also experience a unique sort of self-empowerment. So odd that vulnerability gets paired with weakness as it takes so much courage.
Thank you Matt. And you are so right, it does take a lot of courage. Thank you for sharing your experience with vulnerability.
Such a fantastic ‘lesson’ to learn for everyone- well done! If you would like to know more about the power of being vulnerable, I would very much recommend ‘Iron Butterflies’ by Birute Regine.
Thank you Kirsten and thank you for the recommendation. I will definitely check it out!
And how wonderful you looked … How Inspiring it was to witness you own who you are and trust us with that gift…
Love you
Thank you. It still takes my breath away when I savour the moment.