A Posture of Vulnerability To begin, we must first define vulnerability in order to build from a relatable foundation. The word itself is unclear, understood by the fact that it invokes several different connotations. To be sure, one interpretation of the word is extracted from the Latin word, vulnerare, meaning injury or harm. For this reason, vulnerability has been understood as a synonym for susceptibility. However, in following the work of authors such as Brené Brown, Thomas E. Reynolds, and Jean Vanier, I would like to orient the reader towards a different understanding of the term. For when I say “vulnerable,” I intend to conjure up an image of a posture, or orientation, of vulnerability; and since posture implies a posture-towards-something, I mean to express a relational orientation towards another. In other words, vulnerability can be seen as a relational tool which, according to Jean Vanier, allows us to “become more fully human.” One can pinpoint two aspects which determine such a posture: an acknowledgement and a voluntary divulgence, or uncovering, of one’s susceptibility. In more concrete terms, a posture of vulnerability can be seen as a voluntary divulgence of one’s susceptibility to another. …show more content…
It seems strangely easy to forget humanity’s universal susceptibility to harm, injury, and disease. Madeleine L’Engle explains: “When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable.” It is important to keep this in mind as we attempt to protect ourselves from our own intrinsic susceptibility. Whether this be physical, emotional, or spiritual harm, we as humans seem unable to give up our delusional belief in exhaustive self-fortification. Reynolds rightly explains the importance of this truth and ties this acceptance, ultimately, to human
In her NYTIMES bestseller, "Daring Greatly", Dr. Brown contends, "We equate vulnerability with weakness and poison. Whereas vulnerability is actually the birthplace of joy, love, and empathy". In order to live a full, "wholehearted" life, we need to gain a better understanding of the true nature of vulnerability. Millions of children have been exposed to vulnerability by author J. D. Salinger. Salinger was vulnerable to rejection, criticism, and failing.
Humans live constantly in flux between vulnerability and invincibility. The change in the state of being is so fluid that it has blurred together into the medium of the human experience. The fact that the feeling self-consciousness is what develops the character of people has become lost on the masses. However, Michael Chabon’s “The Lost World”, uncovers this deeply buried secret. “The Lost World” directly supports the fact that vulnerability is the key to the human condition and a more perfect life. Life is about tradeoffs- with all disappointments come surprise and with all joys come disappointments.
A human being is a complicated entity of a contradictory nature where creative and destructive, virtuous and vicious are interwoven. Each of us has gone through various kinds of struggle at least once in a lifetime ranging from everyday discrepancies to worldwide catastrophes. There are always different causes and reasons that trigger these struggles, however, there is common ground for them as well: people are different, even though it is a truism no one seems to able to realize this statement from beyond the bounds of one’s self and reach out to approach the Other.
“The more sure I am that I 'm right, the more likely I will actually be mistaken. My need to be right makes it more likely that I will be wrong! Likewise, the more sure I am that I am mistreated, the more likely I am to miss ways that I am mistreating others myself. My need for justification obscures the truth." This sentence is one of many quotes from the book I really liked and agreed with. After reading The Anatomy of Peace, I realized that the Arbinger Institute was deeply insightful helping me to understand the reality and myself. I also realized that the moment I start to agree with this statement, I walked out of my box.
While buried, so deep beneath the cavity of adversity, finding hope is nearly impossible. But, it is the ability of decisions that aids as the last gleam of hope retrievable. After facing many struggles, it becomes almost involuntary for someone to put up a guard. With using that strategy, and the transgression of time without progress, there’s a certain ignition of comprehension. Change needs to occur, and a complete remedy of that
Judith Herman, from Trauma and Recovery, said “Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life” (John A. Rich, Theodore Corbin, & Sandra Bloom, 2008. Trauma does not involve the same experiences for everyone; each individual is unique in that they, and only they, can decide what is traumatic for them. Before discussing what positive things can come from suffering a traumatic experience, one must first understand that negative things can arise as well. Trauma “shatters people’s basic assumptions about themselves and the world they live in”. Three basic assumptions are challenged by trauma: (1) the belief in personal invulnerability; (2) the perception of the world as meaningful and comprehensible; and (3) the view of ourselves in a positive light” (Baumgardner & Crothers, 2009, p. 67)....
Katel, Peter. “Straining the Safety Net.” CQ Researcher 31 July 2009: 645-68. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
It is a multidimensional human condition and constant human experience with the reduced ability to protect oneself (Cousley, Martin, & Hoy, 2014). Bailey (2010) describes vulnerability as an internal conflict which brings feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and lack of control. Vulnerability as defined by Scanlon & Lee (2006) can be broken into three dimensions, physical, social, and psychological aspects. Physical vulnerability can be identified by the potential risk of harm in the environment. Social vulnerability include age, sex, and ethnicity. Psychological vulnerability refers to the feelings associated with the loss of control and can be manifested by stress and anxiety. Vulnerability can be measured by the potential harm and the capacity to overcome it, as stated by Spiers (2000). Only the person experiencing vulnerability can truly understand its implications as it is a unique and individualized experience. (Thorup, Rundqvist, Roberts & Delmar, 2012). Vulnerability can be better understood by examining the external and internal risk factors that increase an individual’s
Brene Brown’s TED Talk brought the audience through her realization that vulnerability is a necessity. Her talk was a perfect reminder of why vulnerability even exists and how it is incorporated differently in everyone’s life. The ability to access vulnerability is difficult as it a test of one’s eagerness to put themselves out their in the world. While it may seem impossible at the moment to expose themselves to the truth, it is even more rewarding than one expects. During a Skype session with Jeanine Minge she expressed that people’s lack of vulnerability, specifically during ethnography, there might be an attempt to hide from the world. Vulnerability, as Brene Brown says, is the key to joy, creativity, and love. If so, what are people so
Reflexivity emerged out of necessity in late modernity. Through detrationalisation, individualisation, structural fragmentation and social change individuals are forced to be reflexive throughout their lives. Beck’s analysis of the emergence of the risk society compliments Giddens understanding of how reflexivity is an inevitable
Lloyd and Heller (2012) discuss how vulnerability relates to people, who for a period, may need help from health and social care services because they are unable to take care of themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mary’s post stroke symptoms include right sided...
book remains a true testimony to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.
The fact is, it is good to be vulnerable. Good to feel pain, hurt, and suffering. However, vulnerability does not always lead to pain and hurt. Instead it can lead to joy and happiness. Many people think vulnerability is an emotion, the emotion of hurt. Those people are wrong because vulnerability is nearly just an action that can lead to hurt, but can also lead to happiness. Brown says in her Ted talk, “What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful”. She is speaking to anyone with shame and fear. This really moved me because the thought that the pain that causes one to be vulnerable, also makes them beautiful. Brown also says “We numb vulnerability”, this is true with many people. Instead of facing their feelings head on, many people fear them. They want to stop feeling hurt and pain, so to get rid of the hurt they substitute it. When one feels hurt they will drink alcohol, or take drugs prescribed and illegal. But most commonly, they will eat. This is why so many people are addicted, medicated, and obese. Lives have been destroyed, relationships ruined, and careers lost. All due to the fear of vulnerability and because people want to numb it instead of facing it. After having visited the Brene Brown website there was a quote that really caught my eye. She says, “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness”. This is important for everyone to know, because without vulnerability one can never be truly
People are often blinded by the situation in which they are in, and by their personal motives which drive them to act. Humans, by nature, have faults and vices that are potentially harmful. It is the responsibility of society to anticipate harm, whether to oneself or to others. Once dangerous patterns and habits are recognized, it is imperative to anticipate and prevent injury from reoccurring. To allow any individual to be inflicted harm forces citizens to lose trust in the government, thus unraveling the fabric of society.... ...
A hazard is defined as an activity or object that has the potential to cause harm if contact is made with the person, object or activity (MHS, 1996; Harmse, 2007; HSE, 2006). These hazards in a work place need to be identified and dealt with accordingly to prevent any harm to employees or any individual acquainted to a certain activity or establishment. The key roles and principles of occupational hygiene are Anticipation, Identification, Evaluation and Control (Schoeman and van den Heever, 2014; Harmse, 2008; SAMTRAC, 2012). To practise in accordance to the above principle; a hazard identification and risk assessment needs to be conducted. Anticipation is the foreseeing of the activity