I happened to come across an amazing video of a talk given by Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work.
It was this video that prompted me to choose the word “vulnerable” (or “vulnerability”) for the second installment of Self Discovery, Word by Word. I encourage you to watch it.
I think there’s a lot of power in being vulnerable…it’s what I do here with this blog and it has helped me in ways I never would have expected. In particular, being vulnerable has shown me that my feelings cannot destroy me. I can be with my feelings, positive or negative, and not need to turn to food (or shopping or alcohol).
Being vulnerable is healing. I have found that when I allow myself to vulnerable, I am – paradoxically – powerful.
Thank you to all the wonderful and inspiring bloggers who allowed themselves to be vulnerable by participating in this powerful exercise!
The posts are presented in the order in which I received them:
Megan @ Ascension Blog ~ Vulnerability
Christie @ Honoring Health ~ You May Not Know That…
Katie @ Health For The Whole Self ~ On Being Naked: The Great Paradox of Vulnerability
Sue @ Angelic Insights ~ Vulnerability
Cammy @ Building Beauty Beyond Body ~ Vulnerability
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun ~ The Beauty in Being Vulnerable
Heather @ Jumbling Towers ~ Love, Mental Illness, and Vulnerability
Patricia at Eclectic Eating Chicago ~ I am Vulnerable
Ashley @ Nourishing The Soul ~ The Illusion of Control
Damon @ Being Da Man, Ain’t Easy ~ Being A Vulnerable Man – It’s Easy
Mara @ Medicinal Marzipan ~ the one where I get really vulnerable
Joy @ Being Joy ~ Vulnerability Isn’t A Choice
Margarita @ Weightless ~ Vulnerability & The Mask of Thinness
Jules @ Big Girl Bombshell ~ Vulnerability = POWER
Janet @ Health MiSfitS ~ Control or Vulnerability: Can We Choose?
Rosie @ Rosie Is A Loser ~ My Vulnerabilities Exposed
Taron @ Mindy, Body & Scroll ~ Vulnerability: Being Broken Isn’t So Bad
Dorry @ Living With Healthy Hunger ~ Vulnerability
For another interesting article on how to become more vulnerable (and why it is important), please visit Live Strong
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
WOW! A great round-up of insightful posts!
very very very cool.
off to clickyclick.
Thanks Karen for pulling together an awesome month of posts. I truly loved reflecting and reading others’ thoughts on vulnerability.
Karen, you came up with a fantastic word this month. Thanks so much for hosting our series! I love Brene Brown’s talk. I’m reading her book right now, and I’m learning so much.
I love what you say about feelings, that they can’t destroy you. I think that’s an important way to think of feelings. I tend to resist feeling my feelings, so I’ll hold on to this saying next time I think I can’t handle feeling something.
Also, a big thanks to everyone who participated. Can’t wait to check out everyone’s posts!
Being vulnerable is difficult for a lot of people because it means they have to express themselves freely. Everyone hides their personality in one way or another but when you can learn to truly express yourself then you start to really enjoy your life.
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