In life, there are moments that have the ability to shape our understanding of ourselves or someone we know. These events have the power to challenge our beliefs, break down barriers, and reveal the depths of our true selves. One such event that profoundly changed my understanding of myself was a transformative conversation with a close friend. Through this heartfelt exchange, I learned the strength and beauty that lies in embracing vulnerability and the profound impact it can have on our lives. For years, I had fostered an image of strength and self-assurance. I believed that vulnerability was a sign of weakness, a barrier to be avoided at all costs. I kept my emotions guarded, fearing that revealing my true self would leave me exposed and sensitive to judgment and rejection. This act became an integral part of my identity, keeping me from truly connecting with others on a deeper level. …show more content…
As we discussed the depths of our thoughts and feelings, Bella shared her own struggles and vulnerabilities with an openness and authenticity that I had never witnessed before. Her willingness to be vulnerable created an atmosphere of trust and acceptance, one that encouraged me to let down my guard and share my own fears and insecurities. In that moment, as I allowed myself to be vulnerable, something incredible happened. The walls I had built around my heart began to crumble, and a sense of freedom washed over me. I realized that vulnerability was not a weakness, but rather a strength that fostered genuine connections and deepened relationships. It was through vulnerability that we could truly understand and empathize with one
So if we want joy, love, and empathy in our lives, we need to let vulnerability into our hearts.... ... middle of paper ... ... But instead of reacting negatively, I was pleased to see that Anabella and Francisco and Santos – and all my other students – understood. They saw that I was trying my best, and that for any positive change to occur, we, all, had to put ourselves at risk in the arena.
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.
In other words, to produce this ambition, we must take into account the affects that connections provide us. That being said, Butler voices that the ability to let ourselves become vulnerable, helps clarify our purpose of humanity, and while accepting the uncertainties, we abolish the isolation of ourselves while releasing our true, individual characteristics of what constitutes us as human.
Writer, Andrew Solomon, explains that hardships “forge meaning” and thereafter “build identity”. By “forging meaning” he explains that hardships should be about changing oneself and “building identity” should be about changing the world. Solomon states, “It involves substituting ‘and’ for ‘but’ -- not ‘I am here but I have cancer,’ but rather, ‘I have cancer and I am here.” as he tried to explain that we should speak of our hardships to let others know we survived. This gives people a chance to give strength to a group in which one identifies. Throughout his TED talk, Andrew Solomon, speaks about his childhood, adulthood and his struggle through his sexuality in order to convince his audience that past struggles can shape the identity you wear.
Every individual has a distinct past that shapes his or her identity. The situations people face may cause them to have distorted perceptions of themselves. These distorted perceptions allow people to lose sight of the important things in life. In order to discover their true selves they will need to create a path for self transformation. Scott Momaday, Victor Joseph and Macklemore have different pasts but all share a common thread of reconnecting with the important things in life. Many variables affect each person’s destiny, but it is their physical and psychological factors that predisposition their vulnerability. Vulnerability can often be seen as a sign of weakness, but these protagonists are examples of those who embrace their vulnerabilities. Within Scott Momaday’s The Way to Rainy Mountain, Sherman Alexie’s Smoke Signals and Macklemore’s life, the protagonists claim their true identities by becoming vulnerable.
Brown believes that if a person does not open up himself, then he will not connect with other people on level passed the surface. As I have learned through my Ethnographic Research course, vulnerability has the power to transform an embodied text and to knock at people’s perception of themselves. I have continued to notice when an ethnographer is distant from their text and hesitant to connect on a deeper level. As a result, the ethnographic text lacks the ability to evoke response or limits the influence of the journey on the audience. While there a lot of risk and even pain with exposing one’s emotions through vulnerability, there is even more rewards. Brene Brown is inspiring as a speaker because in addition to developing a strong argument on the power of vulnerability; she has the unique quality of perfectly models her message. Brown expressed in her Ted Talk that she spent a whole year struggling with vulnerability. Speaking about her journey Brown openly admitted, “vulnerability pushed, I pushed back. I lost the fight but probably won my life back… What are we doing with vulnerability?” If she was talking about vulnerability, but was unable to show something of herself, her message would have fallen short. However, Brene Brown not only shows us with her words and her research how influential authenticity is, but she demonstrates it to us on a human level. While I was already aware that vulnerability is an important characteristic to tap into, Brene Brown is an inspiration for how anyone can challenge himself or herself to become even more
Serendipity strikes again as the exact book I needed found me at the exact time I required it. As I was browsing through some library audio books, Brene Brown's book practically jumped off the shelf and into my hands, along with a couple of others I had on my list of books I must read right now! A few months back I had seen Brene Brown on the Oprah's Lifeclass show and found her discussion on the topic of vulnerability intriguing. I guess it's no accident that I should happen upon her book at this moment.
When we speak about vulnerability we usually only think the negative connotation of weakness and that feeling of being “Naked and Afraid”. But, when we expose ourselves to the problem,make/find ourselves vulnerable, we remind ourselves of all the possibilities to overcome those problems and often make the changes needed to let those possibilities come to fruition. It is in W.E.B.Du Bois’ book The Souls of Black Folk where one can see how vulnerability played into Du Bois’ life and how it does not stop him but instead empower him, we can also see how it sparks the change of people in Jacob Lawrence’s paintings of The Great Migration and it effects on Sonny in the Sonny's Blues. In all three examples, people are influenced by their feeling
I may hold my feelings when times get rough, but I’m certain that occasionally, it really is better for everybody that way. After all, I’m confident to say that my musings are most definitely not for everybody. I have been told that exact things many times before. But, I’m okay with that, and I can accept that my thoughts can sometimes be better off left unsaid. In the end, I truly believe that it is better for everyone that way.
Vulnerability comes to us in times of uncomfortable social interactions, personal reflections, and many more situations. Brown describes these times where we shield ourselves and become vulnerable as “rumblings.” Vulnerability gets in the way of becoming the best version of ourselves and Brown summarizes the reason why we let this happen as, “The Six Myths of Vulnerability” (Brown 23). At a quick glance, these myths are our personal mindsets of “vulnerability is weak,” “I don’t do vulnerability,” “I can do it alone,” “You create uncertainty/discomfort from vulnerability,” “Trust comes before vulnerability,” and “Vulnerability is disclosure” (Brown 23-35). This brings to light that our belief that we can do everything alone, can’t show weakness, or only discomfort comes from vulnerability will only paralyze your courage within.
Her relatable anecdotes, infused with humor, not only lighten the mood but also draw the audience closer, encouraging a collective embrace of vulnerability as not just an act of courage, but as a fundamental aspect of our shared humanity. In her presentation, Brene Brown taps into our shared human experience by discussing the universal ways we numb and cope with life’s challenges. She opens up about her own battles with vulnerability, revealing how her research unexpectedly led her to a “spiritual awakening.” This pivotal moment marked a significant transformation in her life, teaching her invaluable lessons about the importance of embracing vulnerability. By sharing her personal journey, Brown creates a deep connection with her audience, making her message more impactful.
There are many lessons I learned from reading “Darkness Visible”. One of these lessons, which is a lesson gained at my field placement as well; is that we are all human beings. We each have life experiences, some positive, some negative, but we each have emotions and feelings about these experiences. Many of these emotions are felt in a similar manner. Alth...
As Brene Brown continued her research on the topic of vulnerability, she discovered that when looking at individuals who have an overall high self-worth or sense of love and belonging, she came to find that along with a few other points, the key to gaining this was vulnerability (Brown, Ted Talk, 2010). These individuals believed that what made them vulnerable made them beautiful (Brown, Ted Talk, 2010). When people feel as though they have the freedom to mess up, to express openly their hardships or bad days, and can see their flaws as perfectly imperfect, then a new sense of self love develops. Vulnerability is practical in accomplishing tasks such as building relationships or working your way up on the career ladder, but on a more personal level, it encourages a more positive outlook on one’s emotional, physical, and intellectual makeup. When vulnerability is not displayed outwardly, it affects the inside of a person by creating this idea that a humans most intimate part, his or her thoughts and emotions, are not important enough to be shared.
These relationships have exposed me to diverse perspectives and experiences, fostering a multifaceted identity characterized by empathy and compassion. Through collaboration and mutual support, I have cultivated a sense of belonging beyond the confines of my immediate circle, embracing the interconnectedness of humanity. Central to the transformative power of personal connections is the exchange of emotional support, empathy, and resilience. In moments of adversity, it is the unwavering presence of loved ones that provides solace and strength, propelling me forward with renewed determination.
Too often people build walls around their hearts because being vulnerable is too intimidating. We have to let ourselves feel, to feel is to be alive. We are most vulnerable when we grieve, but that is a blessing in disguise. Being vulnerable is constantly put under a negative light, but it opens our hearts and builds character. During times of vulnerability we learn that we have the capability of sympathizing, we learn that the blood that runs through our veins hasn’t gone cold, and we learn that we were created to be more than just there for ourselves; we were created for each