Why Vulnerability is a Strength

Daniel D.
4 min readJun 10, 2023

Embracing the Unknown

Like many others, assumedly like most other humans on this planet, I am terrified with the idea of feeling vulnerable.

Especially when it comes to love.

Why would anyone willingly expose themselves to the possibility of pain, embarrassment, or diminished self-worth?

In any situation that presents a threat — be it physical or emotional — our natural instinct is to protect ourselves. That’s just basic survival for you. We gear up with our shields and armor (and sometimes weapons). We try to defend, hide or deny those insecurities and weaknesses.

Personally, I’ve always prided myself on projecting an image of the “chill person” in the dating scene.

You know, the embodiment of a free-spirited individual who appears emotionally detached and elusive. The one who perpetually keeps you guessing. (Sigh.)

Not overbearing, intense or needy. Particularly in our culture of over-accessibility and instant gratification, it can be easy to get bored and restless, constantly on the prowl for something better.

The problem is, I was never that person.

However, let’s be real here. That approach is far from ideal. Pretending to be someone I’m not is incongruent with my authentic self…

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Daniel D.

Hi :) Daniel here. I write about psychotherapy and dealing with trauma.