The Power of Vulnerability
The wound is the place where the Light enters you. ~ Rumi
Rumi’s quote reminds me that vulnerability is often a gateway for intimacy, both with myself and others. I was talking to a friend at Unity recently and she mentioned how much see enjoyed my post on Bitter Medicine. She appreciated my willingness to be open and vulnerable. I believe that as we more fully embrace our dark, ordinary and even wounded aspects, we also find more of the true beauty, light and depth that we yearn for.
I encourage you to be vulnerable with your self, your family, friends and co-workers. You might be surprised by what hidden gems you uncover.
Here is more photography from Andrew Kilgore, whom I’ve mentioned before. Andrew’s photography really speaks to my heart, encouraging me to open myself to compassion for others. He has spent his photography career being a champion of the down trodden. Andrew helped pioneer advocacy art where art is used to help promote certain causes. His work aims to help us see and understand those we might tend to overlook in our culture. To connect with his photography, I have to be vulnerable like many of his subjects.
Photo by Andrew Kilgore from his Lens to the Soul documentary.
Brené Brown is another advocate of vulnerability. She makes a good case that vulnerability is the key ingredient to having a fulfilling life. According to Brené, it is only when we are willing to be vulnerable that we can find our true self. She also encourages us to face and heal our shame and difficult feelings. As Brené reminds us, we can either face our difficult feelings or numb them. Unfortunately, when we choose to numb them, we also numb the positive feelings. Willingness to be vulnerable is the doorway to creating better connections, intimacy, love and belonging.
Here is Brené’s TED Talk on vulnerability.
As I’ve faced my losses and painful feelings this year, I’ve grown in compassion, understanding and ultimately a growing sense of peace. I realize that no matter what, I will be OK. My essential self is not affected by the play of thoughts, feelings and circumstances through my life. Each new challenge is simply an opportunity for more love and understanding. A chance to dig deeper into the well of being, find my core aliveness and remember that at the level of soul, all is well.
I sincerely appreciate my friends and fellow bloggers who have shown me so much love and support this year as I journeyed into the pain. Thank You Lorrie, Trini, Frederic, Julie, Amanda, Angelina, Eric, Hariod, Shauna, Iana, Annette, Cynthia and many more.
Blessings, Brad
love me some Brene Brown and love you too my friend! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, I’ll receive all the love you want to give! Thanks so much for adding a big smile to my morning Annette. I appreciate you and love me those tweets! XD
LikeLike
To believe in one’s own invulnerability is to increase one’s own vulnerability.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good perspective Hariod. Running, hiding or covering our vulnerability only causes more problems and pain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brene is awesome…thanks for sharing this link, Brad. I recently listened to her CD series on vulnerability. It is profound.
I’m so glad to have connected with you and your blog -you are a breath of fresh air!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Denise. Vulnerability is a powerful door. Often when we dare to share our hurts and imperfections, we find our shared humanity, and underneath our true shining self! Thanks for being one of my early and continued supporters. I appreciate you and your courage in facing and sharing your challenges.
blessings, Brad
LikeLike
Oh Brad…it has been a pleasure to see you break out of the cocoon…a metamorphosis. ..and now you fly so high and you have left “fear” behind as you explore the other possibilities! I am grateful for our connection and when you heal…you help everyone heal!! Much love ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
The pleasure is mine Lorrie, especially for your enthusiastic vision. 🙂 Still working on letting go of the fear, but dancing with joy and connection to the divine more. Thanks for your loving and enthusiastic support!
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always! Brad! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was really captivated with this talk by Brene Brown. It is such a wonderful melding of left brain analysis with right brain emotion. It just makes so much sense and it speaks to what I have always felt is most important in my own writing – authenticity and vulnerability. It’s amazing how we can speak of these things with such ease in certain domains and attempt to keep them in hiding in other areas. Case in point, I am truly vulnerable and authentic in my written word. I don’t always live up to those same principles in “real” life. And because of that, my authenticity and vulnerability in both areas suffer. I have actually heard this talk before, but it has struck a different chord for me this time around. I appreciate you sharing your own authentic thoughts and helping us all to truly appreciate the power of becoming and remaining vulnerable.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Dave, I’m delighted that my post and Brene’s talk inspired you to live with more vulnerability in your personal relationships. Your posts certainly embody the full range of emotions. I’ve heard her talk before too and get something new each time. 🙂 I’m happy to be a role model for vulnerability. And I very much appreciate you in my community. Thanks Dave!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vulnerability is… invulnerable! great post Brad 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 It’s a pretty good power Frederic, though I haven’t found it to make me invulnerable, just more open to life and connecting. 🙂 Maybe you have super vulnerability powers! XD
LikeLike
🙂 I mean, in a way, vulnerabily allows us to learn deeper and better… and it makes us stronger… super power indeed 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. Thanks my super powered French friend. XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, and I thank you for bringing light, compassion and insight to everyone who reads your blog, as well as the people whose projects and creations you highlight, Brad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank for being a fan and encourager Cynthia. I think we all need people to encourage and support us. I’m grateful if I can touch a few hearts with my words. As you demonstrate in your posts, there are some amazingly wonderful people and places out there. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Brad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s never easy being vulnerable. Or should I say “showing” ones vulnerability. I’ve seen/heard talks from Brene Brown before and I look forward to watching this one. Thanks Brad! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Julie, it’s not always easy, but well worth it. And as Frederic mentioned, the pain of trying to mask it is even worse.
LikeLike
❤ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Iana. 🙂
LikeLike
This post reminds me of Non Violent Compassion( NVC) and more so making me realize how beautifully compassion emerges.Thanks for sharing such a heartfelt post.
LikeLike
You are most welcome Sonali. I’ve been practicing compassion this year and love your phrase about compassion emerging from non-violent behavior. Maybe listening is a factor too?
LikeLike
Ah yes Brene Brown is amazing, isn’t she? She has a wonderful way of speaking just to ‘you’ and not looking down in any way as she speaks. I once thought vulnerability was a weakness but now I know it actually symbolizes quite the opposite… I really enjoyed this post from you, my new friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Christy. I appreciate you diving deep on my blog and can relate to the switch on vulnerability. Thankfully I’ve had some good roles models including Brene. I really like how down to earth she is.
LikeLike
By sharing your journey you have helped so many… We are ALL in this together, and I am honored and privileged to call you friend!!!!! xoxoxoxoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! You just made my morning. 🙂 Your words and kindness touch me deeply. Yes, we’re all in this journey together, and sharing the challenges, joys and lessons make it much better.
Thank You!!
LikeLike
Wonderful post Brad, I am shoulders deep in my own darkness and could not have read this at a more opportune moment, currently curled up in a blanket, trying my best to just breathe. It is in this moment you feel like a little angel to me, letting me know I am not alone in facing my own vulnerability. For as Hariod so wisely counsels, believing we are invulnerable only feeds the flame. I am touched to know you are so loved by so many here, me included, in spite of my absence as of late.
And may I just say, you have excellent taste in photography!
Thank you so much for introducing me to Kilgore’s incredible work!
Much love and hand holding from this side of the screen…
Amanda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, thanks for reading and sharing your vulnerability Amanda. I’m grateful that my, and Hariod’s, words might bring you some comfort and connection.
Andrew has a knack for capturing the rawness of people and purposely does not try to get them to smile or put on a face. He inspires me to open more, and consider taking my photography in a new direction.
Sending warm thoughts and cyber hugs!
LikeLike
“My essential self is not affected by the play of thoughts, feelings and circumstances through my life. Each new challenge is simply an opportunity for more love and understanding.”
Inspirational, Brad, for the pain of the journey I know you’ve known this yr. We share in your rewards, the treasure you’ve found in the deep.
Love,
Diana
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate your care and concern Diana. It’s been heartening to finally feel what I’ve read about for years. And I still get caught up in the human drama as most of us do, along with a few more moments of peace and grace. 🙂 Blessings, Brad
LikeLike
loveloveLOVE Brene!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t hold back Susanna! XD For me, she embodies vulnerability and integrity.
LikeLike
Brad this is one excellent post, Sometimes its not until we reach our own vulnerability and our own lowest ebb that we bring up the power of our strengths.. It often in acceptance of our weaknesses we grow, I know from my own personal perspective in my own low ebb moments and knowing how it feels to be on the ‘edge’ and going through my own Nervous Breakdown in the 90’s .. In hindsight it was the best possible experience I could have gone through.. Because it made me who I am today..
Your words “Each new challenge is simply an opportunity for more love and understanding.”……….
I So sooooooo Agree.. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts here Brad..
Blessings
Sue
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sue. It has been a hard year, but I’m beginning to see and feel the light. I’ve found that my being willing to be open and vulnerable is often what helps shift my perspective and/ or life. And learning to be more compassionate, open and loving are my main guides as I journey forward.
Thanks for confirming that the challenges will bear fruit if I keep opening and loving! I appreciate your support and encouragement. 🙂
LikeLike
The topic of vulnerability always stops me in my tracks and the talk with Brené Brown has come across my path so many times from so many directions that it warms my heart to think of it. I love that Rumi quote so much I am going to turn it into one of my Happy Boxes; thank you for enlightening me with the magic of his words I had not heard before. Keep on rocking’ Brad, you are amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brené seems to be a favorite of many folks, probably for her honesty and vulnerability! I love so many of Rumi’s poems and words. That will be a great Happy Box! Your kind and affirming words touched my being. Thanks so much Lisa! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And here it is: http://bloomlisa.com/2014/11/13/falling-into-place/
I hope you like it; it was absolutely cathartic to create it. This is the second time you have inspired me lately to write; from the bottom of my heart, thank you Brad.
LikeLike
I’m delighted to play as your muse Lisa! Thanks for your kind support and share. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Falling Into Place | bloomlisa
Reblogged this on SOUL FIELDS.
LikeLike
Thanks and welcome to my blog Deelia. 🙂 Many blessings, Brad
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brad, for choosing to follow my blog. I’m glad you liked what you read. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Natalie. to mutual blessings,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Brad, I found your blog several days ago and I have appreciated the consciousness and love you brought here to share with people, it is truly a breath of fresh air, thank you.
And wow, you really hit a vein of gold with this post! I am so glad and relieved that there are people out there talking about vulnerability and appreciate its power. I have noticed in observing others and also from my own experience, that vulnerability is a quality that everybody respects tremendously, but few people are actually willing to be it. I am still trying to figure out why this is so hard for us, but regardless of the reason for it, I believe that the fact that we all love vulnerability in others shows that everybody recognizes what really matters, because we all have the same heart and the same feeling about what is truly important and beautiful.
I believe this is tremendously important because it’s very central to what I believe will save this humanity: our actual Humanity. Meaning our true, raw, beautiful feeling, passion, need and fragility, expressed and lived every day as much as possible. Rather than condemning it as unworthy and bad, as is usually the case.
I found some really helpful stuff about vulnerability and other aspects of humanity in the Humanity card from a set of cards called Cards for Living. You might like to see it. Here’s a link: http://www.cardsforliving.com/html/card-pages/humanity.html
LikeLike
Hey Dirk, I really appreciate your thoughtful reply. It’s very obvious that you care about humanity and vulnerability. It sounds as though you have found ways to embrace vulnerability. I truly believe it’s a precious gift when we can bear our souls and human frailties with others. You covered and expressed the topic quite well. Maybe there is a post in it for you too! Thank you for your kind words and welcome to the community. I look forward to connecting further. blessings, Brad
LikeLike