The Practice of Vulnerability

Vulnerability.  Say that to yourself a few times.  How do you feel?  Does it make you uncomfortable?  Uneasy?  Fearful?  Do you cringe a little bit?  I do.  A little voice within, goes "Eeeek!!! No, go away!"  Then I realize, whatever situation, is bringing this up in me, is something, I should probably lean into.  First, what does it mean, to be vulnerable?  It is defined as "being capable or susceptible, to being wounded or hurt".  Yikes!  Why the hec would we want to go there right? 

I am quite familiar with avoiding it.  We all usually have an area or two, in life, where we just don't go there.  We build walls, we put on our mask for the day, we clench our fists, ready for battle right?  We avoid any and all situations, or conversations, which might make us a little too uncomfortable, or bring up the root feeling we do not like to admit we all have sometimes: Fear.  Fear of being judged, disappointed, or hurt.  So, we stay quiet, when we should speak up, or we use anger to protect ourselves, we don't ask for that raise, we don't express how we truly feel to a loved one, we don't go for that opportunity, we don't take that class, we don't book that trip, we don't try something new, we don't look in the mirror at our own faults, we don't go on that date, we simply... Stay. Safe.  

What happens even further, unconsciously, we don't forgive, we don't let go, we don't grow, and we don't expand to our highest potential.   This is the real tragedy of avoidance.  What I have learned, is, that vulnerability, is much like Yoga, a practice.  It takes commitment, and dedication, to lean into those uncomfortable moments in our lives, the same way, we show up on our mats, willing to go for that pose we have not tried, knowing, we may fall...so what?  We get back up.  We practice again, until one day, yay...we got this!! 

We build strength, awareness, and confidence on our mats.  It's the same with vulnerability.  The more, we choose to go there, to dive in, to those uncomfortable feelings, what we find, is, it is the only path, that ultimately, leads us to experiencing true joy, happiness, and fulfillment.  Yes, we may get hurt.  We may be judged.  We may be disappointed.  We must be willing to experience all of life, the good and the bad. 

​When we are willing, there is so much to gain.  We awaken gifts we didn't even know we had.  We build new relationships.  We accomplish our goals.  We achieve a lifelong dream.  We cultivate confidence.  We strengthen our Faith.  We shine our light.  And the more we shine, the more we encourage others to do the same.  We are all worthy, to live a life, of our highest potential, and the only way, is to look vulnerability right in the eye, and say "I got this.  I can do this."  So, let's all, one uncomfortable moment at a time, lean in....and keep practicing.