People so often confuse vulnerability with weakness. They
believe that being vulnerable is being naïve, is standing
on a ledge, closing your eyes, and falling, blindly into people
and relationships.
But what they don’t understand, is that being vulnerable
is the strongest thing you can be.
Vulnerability is opening your eyes and being honest with
yourself. It is seeing the weakest, most fragile parts of
yourself and acknowledging them, owning them. It is realizing
your imperfections, your fears, and your desires. It is staring
your past in the face and deciding that despite what has
happened to you, you will continue to be open to people and
experiences. You won’t let the world make you hard.
Vulnerability is choosing love. Choosing love again and again.
It is knowing that you may be hurt, you may get broken, but you
are allowing yourself to experience the most wonderful parts of
life. And that’s truly beautiful.
Vulnerability is doing things that terrify you. It is opening
up to people. It is giving others the opportunity to know you,
the real you. And letting go of the fear of what they
might find. It is giving yourself the opportunity for real,
authentic relationships. Relationships that matter, that mean
something.
Vulnerability is doing things that terrify you so that you can
grow, experience, and flourish. It is not backing away from
things because they’re new or unknown or scary. But
embracing what the world has to offer, without holding
back.
Vulnerability is power, is second chances, is giving yourself
the best life you can.
Vulnerability is what makes us human. So please, don’t be
afraid of it.
Don’t be afraid to peel back your layers, to grab hold of
what makes you nervous, to open yourself to love, even after
the door’s been closed.
Don’t be afraid to forgive, to let go of your past, to
bring in the new and to celebrate yourself, your life.
Vulnerability is strength. And you, honey, are resilient.
—Marisa Donnelly