The Art of Being Brave and Vulnerable

Being brave and vulnerable is probably one of the hardest things to do, but it’s vital for personal growth and connection with others. Sometimes, we are too afraid of being judged and criticized that we end up putting walls around ourselves. But being vulnerable means being genuine and authentic, which is a necessary ingredient for authentic and meaningful relationships. Here are some tips on how to be brave and vulnerable without fear.

Redefine vulnerability

In Deb Brown’s TEDx Talk, she said that “vulnerability is not about winning or losing. It’s about showing up when you can’t control the outcome.” And that’s exactly what vulnerability does—it creates room for honest connections with people. More often than not, vulnerability is equated with weakness, but it’s not. It takes a lot of courage and resilience to be open and honest about your feelings and your story. So, instead of seeing vulnerability as something to be ashamed of, look at it as an opportunity to show up authentically in the world.

Practice self-compassion

Being vulnerable is not always easy especially with our heavy personal stories, trials or challenges that we too face. So, when you feel like you’re being too hard on yourself, remember to practice self-compassion. Speak kindly to yourself. Give yourself permission to feel what you are feeling. You deserve to be heard and you should be there to witness that!

Embrace fear and courage at the same time

The truth is that vulnerability can bring up feelings of fear and anxiety. But it’s also essential to being resilient and effectively creating lasting relationships. Oftentimes, the most significant experiences come from taking risks in life. So, it’s vital to learn how to embrace fear and bravery at the same time. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, and confront any fears that you may have so you can develop a sense of confidence in yourself. Remember that bravery is not the absence of fear but the ability to act in the presence of fear.

Connect with others

For many of us, vulnerability is more comfortable with people we trust. Find people that you are safe with, people that you feel you belong too ; people that you cherish the most. Lean on good friends and family or find people who share common interests in groups or hobbies. There’s a common ground of humanity that exists in shared experiences that can only be solidified through vulnerability. Connecting deeply with others can happen only if enough courage is mustered to allow for being brave and vulnerable at the same time.

The vulnerability hangover

When the familiar feelings of anxiety that come after being vulnerable feels too hard to handle, leading to a tape of shame and quick judgement of yourself, consider adopting a self-care routine that your poor soul may need. During this time, it is useful to reward oneself by taking a meal you always craved, listen to your favorite songs or take that nap you have always delayed. Use comfort measures to help yourself when you experience anxiety and trust yourself to weather uncomfortable feelings. Soon enough the vulnerability hangover will pass.

You can undoubtedly reclaim your uniqueness and brave capacity with vulnerability to guide you to it. Being vulnerable may not be easy, but with these tips and the willingness to build authentic relationships, you’ll find strength you never knew resided within you.