This past week I’ve talked with a lot of people about their fear of being vulnerable. It is usually associated with dating or being in a relationship but I find that it relates to a lot of areas of people’s lives. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we are exposing ourselves. The protective armor comes off, the swords are dropped and there we are, fully exposed. Most of us don’t ever allow ourselves to do that because what if we get hurt? Or what if someone laughs in our face when they see us for who we really are? And so we keep the armor on and we march ahead with the swords held strongly in front of us. Sure, a few of us sometimes maybe lower the sword and think that is “exposing” ourselves enough, allowing others in. But is it really?And doesn’t it get heavy and cumbersome to walk around with all of that heavy armor on? It’s exhausting. What if you could stand free to the world and say, this is who I am, bumps and bruises and all? When in fact it’s those very bumps and bruises that you learn from and become a better person for it. But if you have all of that armor on, you’ll never learn those lessons.
This week, I challenge you to take it all off (metaphorically speaking of course – this is not that kind of blog:)). Whether it be in your dating life where you have been hiding out or in a job that you have been afraid to go for, whatever it is, try throwing it all to the side and feel the liberation. You might just find that you are welcomed with open arms more than you ever would have been.
