“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” ― Brené Brown
Being vulnerable in front of people, implies that you are taking the risk of being hurt, feeling judged or rejected. It also helps build stronger, deeper and healthier relationships, but let’s be honest, it is a scary road to travel.
You could spend years of your life building walls and walls around you, that make you feel protected, secure and give you a sense of control. You can end up mastering the art of hiding, so nobody gets the chance to hurt you or discover your fears and weaknesses. There are always people we trust and levels of vulnerability we feel comfortable with, but the real vulnerability goes beyond that comfort zone. The question is, are you willing to let go of control and expose yourself? Are you willing to let others see you for who you really are?
The first step is to start tearing down the walls around your and forsake all your defense mechanisms. You need to have the courage to be imperfect and learn how to be compassionate to yourself and others. Let go of who you think you should be, to embrace who you are. When you finally do this you find the beautiful birthplace of joy, peace, contentment.
Remove all your masks and welcome the freedom that comes from knowing that you are fully loved and accepted. This freedom and vulnerability may feel a little scary at first as it can make you feel “naked” in front of other people. You may even begin to wonder, what will happen when I no longer have walls, nor masks to cover myself?, what will happen when all that is left is me?
But the reality is that you can’t selectability numb emotions, so to experience love, you most be willing to risk getting hurt in the process. You need to allow yourself to be seen and be vulnerable, understanding that you are certainly imperfect and wired for struggle, but you are worthy to be loved in all you splendor. So, kick fear out of your heart and begin to trust those around you. Vulnerability can be terrifying, but it is also the gateway to profound relationships that nurture one’s heart.