Being Vulnerable… Is it worth it?

Being Vulnerable puts you at risk for injury, harm, and heartbreak. But the rewards are immense. So before you crawl back into your shell and reject the idea of vulnerability, remember the rewards that come with this risky business—freedom, power, passion, and love. It just might be worth it.

No one likes to feel vulnerable. Just check out Webster’s Dictionary and you’ll find words like “open to, in danger, at risk.” Doesn’t sound so appealing when you think about it from that perspective. So why would anyone agree to intentionally putting themselves at risk, especially when it comes to matters of the heart? What’s so great about being vulnerable? Since this word is thrown around so much in the world of love and relationships, I decided to break down the pros and cons to being vulnerable.

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Let’s start with the cons.

• Being Vulnerable puts you at risk for injury, harm and heartbreak. It means your defenses are down and your heart is open.
• Being vulnerable puts you at risk for rejection. It means you have a stake in something and that something or someone may reject you, dismiss you, judge you, or leave you.
• Being vulnerable puts you at risk for opening up old wounds. It means that someone may hurt you in the same way you’ve been hurt before, thereby creating injury on top of injury—ouch!

Okay, so far it doesn’t look too good for vulnerability. The risks seem high. But let’s look again at what it means to be vulnerable from another perspective.

• Being vulnerable allows you to relate to others authentically. It means you don’t have to pretend to be anything other than yourself.
• Being vulnerable allows you to take risks and go for your dreams. It means you are able to live a life filled with adventure, passion, purpose, and joy.
• Being vulnerable allows you to experience true intimacy with others. It means you are able to connect with others in a genuine, honest, and open manner.
• Being vulnerable allows you to give and receive real love. And that means everything!

So before you crawl back into your shell and reject the idea of vulnerability, remember the rewards that come with this risky business—freedom, power, passion, and love. It just might be worth it.

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Be well,
Julie

Julie Orlov, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Pathway to Love: Create Intimacy and Transform Your Relationships through Self-Discovery

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