In your quest to combat the fear of vulnerability, you may wish to consider one or more of the following eight strategies:
- Embrace your vulnerability. Learn to love the authentic you. Everyone has flaws, imperfections, past mistakes, and embarrassing stories they wish they could forget. There is not a person in the world who does not wish that he or she could go back in time and change certain things. To learn to love yourself, begin by acknowledging yourself as a human being – flaws, imperfections, and all. Own and embrace your past mistakes…realizing that they do not define your present or future.
- Freely and genuinely express your emotions. At a young age, you may have been taught not to openly express your emotions. As a result, you purposely bottle your emotions and do not connect with others in a deep, meaningful manner. Tell someone that you appreciate, admire, respect, value, or love them. Emotional intimacy is therapeutic.
- Realize the fact that perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield. Perfectionism is not the key to success. In fact, research confirms that it hampers achievement and is correlated with depression, anxiety, addiction, and missed opportunities. Fear of failing, making mistakes, and rejection sensitivity keep people out of the arena where healthy competition exists. Be wary of your ego and its aversion to being vulnerable.
- Try new experiences. One of the best strategies to combat vulnerability is to experience something new without knowing the outcome in advance. Put yourself out there. Experiences will boost your sense of happiness.
- Share intimate details of your personal history. Through the process of revealing interesting elements of your personal history, you will form deeper emotional connections and greater intimacy with others.
- Accept that there are bumps in the road. Because you are a mortal being, traumas create uncertainly and pain. Suffering, injury, illness, death, and heartbreak are real and constant. You are wise to accept the fact that life is full of ups and downs.
- Take responsibility instead of blaming others. Taking responsibility for your problems is so powerful as it puts you in control of the solution. When you blame others, you are handing over the control to someone else.
- Tell someone that they are being hurtful and insensitive. When another person needles you or treats you poorly, do you suck it up, put on a thick skin, and just grin? Calling another person out when they cross the line makes you vulnerable. If you know what you stand for and can articulate your position, make your feelings and opinions known It demonstrates strength, courage, and conviction.
When you lean into your vulnerability with openness and compassion, your life will become more fulfilling. Vulnerability… a quality of courage.