In her new book, Daring Greatly, Brené Brown describes vulnerability as “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.” It’s that unstable feeling we get when we step out of our comfort zone or do something that forces us to loosen control.”
In my early 40’s my husband gifted me a women’s weekend away with a difference. It was with the international women within organisation. Here I was going to learn how to be vulnerable in women’s circles. I was raised in a toxic environment where vulnerability meant you got eaten up for breakfast. So I had armoured up in a big way. I was angry and pissed off with the world. I did not trust women. Either they abandoned me or rejected me or stabbed me in the back. So going on a women’s weekend did not bring me joy. I was terrified! Needless to say, it was a life-changing experience. I highly recommend every single woman gives themselves the gift of going. I will be sure to send my daughter when she is 18.
The coaching journey I take my clients on is a process of becoming more authentic to themselves and thus able to show up with authenticity in the world and with others.
That journey is a journey of vulnerability with self, others and that which we see as bigger than us (God, higher power, nature our legacy etc). Becoming vulnerable is about taking down the armour we have built around ourselves as protection from trauma, grief and experiences in life that left us feeling like we had to protect ourselves.
The process of coaching with me is about becoming vulnerable in a safe space. It is about knowing when to be vulnerable and with whom. It is about setting boundaries with ourselves and not putting ourselves in situations that are unsafe, then opening up and being vulnerable where we are rejected and so we self-sabotage ourselves.
We need to feel the tension between knowing that it is no longer viable to stay closed off to life, protected, shut off, bitter, resentful and not engaged and showing up in life with authenticity, empathy and vulnerability and feeling free and in that space of vulnerability we are so powerful, strong and empowering.
Brene Brown has an incredible interview with Oprah where she talks about the 6 people who do not deserve to hear about your story ( 5 minutes long)
What I learn from this wisdom is that our vulnerability is a gift we give to ourselves and others. We need to create safety when we share our vulnerability, firstly, because our share is then held with sacredness by the other and we then connect deeply with the other, which is then a gift to the other and us.
What I learn from this wisdom is that our vulnerability is a gift we give to ourselves and others. We need to create safety when we share our vulnerability, firstly, because our share is then held with sacredness by the other and we then connect deeply with the other, which is then a gift to the other and us.
