How I Found Courage in Being Vulnerable and Here is How You Can Do It Too
What's up Steemians.
I hope your weekend started in the best way possible. I just got off the phone with Jillian who is the founder of Morning Sunshine podcast and I must say, we had some super deep conversation early in the morning and I decided that I want to share with you a few things about it.
I don't know how many of you guys know my little humble story and a huge emotional awakening I've experienced just recently but here is a little insight.
For many years, I believed that vulnerability is a weakness. I thought that showing emotions like pain, shame or guilt means that I am not this strong woman I always strived to be.
I worked very hard to show the world only my tough part and nothing else. The truth is that I wasn't lying only to my surrounding but I was lying to myself. I always pretended that I "got this" and that nothing and no one can hurt me. This lifestyle created nothing but the huge pile of unresolved emotions within me.
After about 14 years of this tough cookie mentality, I knew that what I was doing wasn't working. I wasn't becoming stronger, I just pretended my strength while inside, I was screaming for help. Is anyone reading this feeling the same way?
So I started to seek some answers because my approach to what I felt wasn't working. I mentioned in the previous post that I discovered this book from Brene Brow "The gifts of imperfection" which totally transformed my view of mental strength. Her teaching was profound and super powerful for me.
I dug deep inside and found out that all this time, I was pretending and putting my real feelings in some deep dark hole just so I didn't have to face them which made me more fragile than ever.
You know, the reason I find so important talking about this is that I know many of you guys can resonate on my story. I know that we try to put the mask on our faces every day since we think it will protect us from the negative side of the world. The vulnerability is a big and scary word for many because it represents feelings and the possibility of hurt. I get it. But one thing I learned is that if we deny vulnerability and hurt and pain, we deny ourselves. And this will eventually result in more pain.
The best thing about vulnerability is that once we admit it and see it as something that is part of our lives, we gain a tremendous self-respect and I explain how. The moment you face your emotions, those good and bad, you are practicing courage. Facing what hurts you is scary, that's why many of us don't want to do it, including me. But the moment you allow yourself to see who you truly are, with all those emotions and imperfections, you stop pretending. Being emotionally naked in front of ourselves is one of the truest things we can experience.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this and I will definitely post more related articles like this one. I find it very important talking about it since traditional society teaches the complete opposite. "Don't be too emotional and keep it casual" type of mentality.
Let's beat it together by joining the conversation. Its all about being real.
Thank you for reading.
XoXo
Silvia
This is what I'm always stuck inbetween. Being vulnerable or trying to deny it. It's true, all that you said above, how denying your vulnerability is denying yourself and I completely agree. It's a great thing to allow yourself be vulnerable, but sometimes is just hard. Always trying your best, and caring soo much about everything, and then being disappointed, being let down and stuff like that are really really heart breaking. And I think it's some kind of self defense, you naturally never wanna feel like that again and you' re mad because you were vulnerable enough to let that feelings get to you. So maybe, sometimes being vulnerable can cause you more pain than anything else.. I still believe it's a good thing though, it just can be really hard.
I completely understand what you are saying. Being vulnerable is risky that's why many of us avoid it. But if we don't open up, we won't experience those amazing feelings like love or connection. And at the end of the day, we get hurt anyway since it is hard to control it. Thank you for sharing your perspective. I so much resonate with how you feel about it.
I was in the same situation as you were, always scared of being vulnerable.
I use to thinking my vulnerability is a product of low self esteem, so in the bid to break out of that, I became a stone cold man. Acted as an emotionless person over the years until I discovered that vulnerability is actually one of the greatest height one can attain.
That's awesome. I think it is a big success when a person goes from stone cold man to someone who understands how much power, strength, and courage is hidden in being vulnerable. I've understood this concept not too long time ago and I must say, it changed the way how I see myself and who I am.
Good good contents you have and it needs reach more people. Are you on discord?
No I am not but I heard about it from another guy here on SteemIt. Oh, I gotta check it out. Are you there?
Yes I am and I will like to connect with you