What it means to be vulnerable
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Vulnerable. adjective. Exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
Vulnerability — something many of us avoid due to fear of being judged, hurt or failure. To be vulnerable means to put ourselves in a position that could potentially hurt us.
Many of us that fear vulnerability because somewhere in our lives, we’ve been hurt before. Weather it be a heart break, a rejection or a criticism. It made us aware of ourselves and we consciously avoid the possibility of being vulnerable again by dodging situations that could cause us the same pain, embarrassment or sense of rejection again.
But vulnerability doesn’t have to be a negative thing. To be vulnerable means to put yourself out there and be open to possibilities and opportunities. Fear is only a temporary thing constructed by a negative association with the event or activity.
For some, public speaking can be a crippling experience. As you stand on stage, a hundred pair of eyes staring at you, watching your every movement and listening to your every word - panic starts to rise as you become acutely self conscious of the potential judgement and silent thoughts directed towards you.
Your vulnerability can be leveraged
Leverage. Verb. Use (something) to maximum advantage.
When you open yourself up to the possibility to criticism and rejection, you’re also opening yourself up to chance and growth.
Have you ever been afraid to ask a question? To put yourself up as a potential candidate for something like a promotion? Not doing so only inhibits your opportunity for change.
To leverage your vulnerability means to not let your fears prevent you from moving towards what you want in life.
Fear comes from your inability to control the outcome of a situation to suit what you desire. To be vulnerable means you are exposing yourself to that fear on purpose. In order to leverage your vulnerability, you need to take ownership of that fear so you can mold the final outcome to suit your needs.
