“You cannot get to courage without walking through vulnerability.” Brené Brown
Why is vulnerability so heard? Well because we don’t like to fail or experience pain. We often regard failure as an unexpected outcome contrary to what we expected. Clearly, failure causes or leads us to experience pain or simply put, when we fail, we experience pain.
Can we really experience the fullness of life, joy of relationship or adventure without pain? Clearly we cannot. It is said that the greatest joy comes from the most painful experiences. If you are not convinced, ask your mother. To bring you to this world, she endured a great deal of pain, but that also lead to a great deal of joy—you.
Now, why is it then that we are wired to avoid painful experiences despite our knowledge that, ‘no pain no gain’?
I suppose the answer is in the fact that we like to put on masks—pretend that we are fine when we are not or showoff our weakness as think them to be strength e.g. bullying others when we are feeling like a chicken on the inside. I suppose this is really being human, and we all have been there done that.
That said, to be alive is to live fully; experiencing joy, living live meaningfully with purpose in a way that we inspire others to rise up and lead their lives joyfully and meaningfully.
Whether that is at work, school, in relationships or in our families, we must be willing to take off the masks and be ourselves.
This process while it yields great rewards in the end e.g. creativity, self-awareness, self-love/honor, self-appreciation (not the egotistical kind, the healthy kind); joy, meaning, happiness and fulfillment—it’s a journey.
One that takes time, it’s often painful and it’s continuous process. Simply, it’s the way to live meaningfully and joyfully!
Vulnerability is an act of courage because once you awaken to the fact that the ego is your enemy, you move towards merging with your authentic self, revealing the most unique amazing person that the world has yet to meet and longs to meet, the best of you!
So, would you like to know what that is like if you’ve not already? Do you want to be ground in your true self or in your authenticity? Then the choice is yours and the path is vulnerability for therein you’ll find a friend who’s been with you since your infant days-embrace.
Start by embracing vulnerability in the simplest form possible and with your friends and family where you feel safe to do so. Gradually, you will discover that vulnerability though scary it’s your key to truly being you that you were created to be, the glorious awesome amazing you!
The you that is aware of your short-comings yet embraces each one of them, and as Brené Brown affirms, “Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am brave and worthy of love and belonging,”
For more on self-awareness, check my published article on the topic by clicking the link below.https://leaderonomics.com/personal/the-art-of-self-awareness-in-leadership
Carolyne helps professionals gain CLARITY in building a better brand for better results. She is a speaker, author of Being Grounded: 21 Days To Come Alive and Love Your Life, and a contributing writer for various publications. To schedule your 45 minutes complimentary session with her, you can write her at carolyne@vpfstrategies.com
