A very close friend of mine introduced a video to me today which is listed under my resource page called "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. Her background is in Social Work and Research. I encourage you to take a look. Why though?
We often associate being vulnerable with being weak. We think that if we should be anything less than our best selves for a first impression, then we won't get the chance to make a second one. Society teaches us this too. We learn this in interviews, in school, or going on our first date.
I was reintroduced to someone that I knew many years ago and in fact we hadn't even spoken in over 15 years because our lives were on different paths at different parts of the country. However, we have always felt that we were connected in either some heavenly or cosmic way. We will never know. We have been the best of friends and yet spent so many years apart. When we spoke, as much as I wanted to keep my mask up, to keep from appearing vulnerable, love took over. I couldn't be anything but vulnerable. My emotions were raw, my excitement for our conversation was overwhelming, my heart ached in a way that I can't explain but it was all amazing. What I realized in that moment and in watching Brene's video was that being vulnerable, regardless of the other's interpretation, it is gratifying, freeing, and emotionally empowering. The power that comes from this act of letting go is much stronger than what you might get if you were holding back and composed.
So why would I share this with you? First of all, I share it with you because I am excited to share it with others. Even if it lasts for a short while or a life span, it is wonderful and real and something I deserve. I also share it with you because I want you to challenge yourself to consider what gets in your way to hold yourself back. What piece of the puzzle are you missing for a whole picture? If you look into your hand, you will likely find that puzzle piece resting within your palm. You are in control of your pathway. You are also in control of your isolation. Email me stories you have of love or things that get in your way. I would love to hear them. If you need help moving in any direction, we can set up time to talk or meet for a clinical session.
In the words of Dr Seuss, "We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love".
We often associate being vulnerable with being weak. We think that if we should be anything less than our best selves for a first impression, then we won't get the chance to make a second one. Society teaches us this too. We learn this in interviews, in school, or going on our first date.
I was reintroduced to someone that I knew many years ago and in fact we hadn't even spoken in over 15 years because our lives were on different paths at different parts of the country. However, we have always felt that we were connected in either some heavenly or cosmic way. We will never know. We have been the best of friends and yet spent so many years apart. When we spoke, as much as I wanted to keep my mask up, to keep from appearing vulnerable, love took over. I couldn't be anything but vulnerable. My emotions were raw, my excitement for our conversation was overwhelming, my heart ached in a way that I can't explain but it was all amazing. What I realized in that moment and in watching Brene's video was that being vulnerable, regardless of the other's interpretation, it is gratifying, freeing, and emotionally empowering. The power that comes from this act of letting go is much stronger than what you might get if you were holding back and composed.
So why would I share this with you? First of all, I share it with you because I am excited to share it with others. Even if it lasts for a short while or a life span, it is wonderful and real and something I deserve. I also share it with you because I want you to challenge yourself to consider what gets in your way to hold yourself back. What piece of the puzzle are you missing for a whole picture? If you look into your hand, you will likely find that puzzle piece resting within your palm. You are in control of your pathway. You are also in control of your isolation. Email me stories you have of love or things that get in your way. I would love to hear them. If you need help moving in any direction, we can set up time to talk or meet for a clinical session.
In the words of Dr Seuss, "We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love".