Why we should all have the courage to be VULNERABLE

Over the past two months I have been more vulnerable than ever before. I have openly shared, with not just those that are my closest friends, but have had the courage share with others. I have published this blog, been open in my delivery and committed to talking from the heart. The things I have noticed are – when I am open, others are open around me. They may not be immediately, but they slowly warm and the barriers begin to come down.

The journey is still a challenging one but it got me thinking… this is certainly the way I want to lead my life. When I have the courage I have noticed the benefits come back in a million and one ways. Don’t ask me to list a million and one but I will list 5!

In a world where so many of us spend our days scrolling through ‘fake’ social media profiles, getting caught in wanting more of what (we wrongly assume) others have, it is time to FIND THE COURAGE TO BE VULNERABLE.

The benefits of being vulnerable:

1. Sharing your challenges makes you feel lighter

I believe life is filled with beauty and joy. But I also know that life is filled with challenge. It hits you when you least expect it and it hurts bad! It is the feeling of being alive. When you feel this pain, this confusion and when you are experiencing deep challenge, sharing it with someone you trust and respect makes the challenge feel lighter. Slowly, you begin to feel like you can get through it, you begin to feel you have the support of someone that cares. Even if the support is just a listening ear.

2. Being open and honest creates a deeper connection

I don’t know about you but I thrive on feeling connected to others. I love the smile I get from the inside out knowing that I have someone I can share in life’s challenges, fun and adventure with. How do you find that person or those people? You be real with them! If you are real and they don’t connect with you, they ‘aint your people.

3. You will understand more about our world and the people that make it

We all have our story. Whether we are male or female, abled or disabled, whether we are a sister or a brother, an employer or an employee we have a story, a history that makes us, us. Being vulnerable allows us to not only tell our story but hear the story of others. It widens our perspective, it deepens our understanding and it builds empathy. Next time someone shares a piece of their story with you, I encourage you to listen without judgement. Listen to understand.

4. It will open you up to growth and becoming a better version of yourself

Vulnerability allows you to be exposed. It allows you to be unafraid to say ‘Hey, I’m not perfect’ and then you can take it one step further and say ‘I am working out what the lesson is here for me’. When we are vulnerable we are open to admitting our mistakes, our flaws and our imperfections. When we are unafraid to admit these the next step is to learn from them. When we learn from them and we implement change we grow, as a friend, as a human, as a leader and as you.

5. Vulnerability gives people permission to acknowledge their emotion

In our world, today there is too much suffering. Part of the suffering (in my opinion) is the pressure and judgement we place on each other and the hidden emotions we shamefully conceal. Feelings, not a dangerous word it is human emotion and these emotions need to be shared and spoken of more. When we openly say how we feel whether it be hurt, sadness, uncertainty, happiness or confusion at first it might feel awkward but after time it will become standard conversation, that is what we should be working towards.

Please know that who we choose to be vulnerable with is sacred. We must feel a sense of connection to them, a sense of support from them and a sense of value in each other. Little by little it is time to drop your guard and be the authentic self you were born to be.

with LOVE from Bel x