Vulnerability

Our human superpower for connection, courage, and love.

These past days, I’ve been in that dark place I know so well. Uncomfortable, scary, lonely, uncertain, and somehow hopeless. It’s a place where staying grounded in the present moment feels almost impossible. My mind races between the past and the future at an overwhelming pace, swinging from nostalgia and sadness to anxiety and fear within seconds.

I have tools to manage these moments, and I try to avoid staying there too long, but some days, I just can’t stop it. My mind seems stronger than my will.

In that state, sitting down to write feels particularly hard. I guess I don’t want to appear as a victim or evoke pity. And I don’t want to drag others into this low energy. My intention has always been to bring light, love, and joy into the world, not negativity. Yet, in wanting to protect others from my darkness, I realize I’m rejecting a part of myself that desperately needs my validation, love, and compassion.

With this awareness, I make the decision to embrace my compassion, sit down, and write anyway. Maybe I’m not the only one feeling this way. Perhaps sharing how I feel on these grey autumn days could resonate with someone else.

And as I write, something magical happens. The discomfort doesn’t completely disappear, but a new energy emerges. It’s enough to inspire me to reflect on a topic I love: vulnerability.

When I talk about vulnerability, I cannot forget to mention Brené Brown and her TED Talk on “The power of vulnerability” It’s a super inspiring talk, and in it, she shares: “I know that vulnerability is kind of the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears it is also the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging, and love.”

Showing ourselves in moments of darkness isn’t always welcomed by others. After all, many of us instinctively numb or reject such emotions. Still, I also believe vulnerability is a superpower. It allows us to deeply connect as human beings, fostering healing, love, and compassion for ourselves and others. In fact, I don’t know any other way to truly connect with others.

At the same time, by showing vulnerability, we invite others to do the same, creating a space where we can all navigate life’s darker moments together.

That said, vulnerability requires tremendous courage, especially in a world that values certainty and expects us to have all the answers, often forgetting that we all go through moments of darkness. And perhaps, for that very reason, vulnerability has never been more essential. As Brené Brown says, “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness“.

While I can’t ask everyone to embrace vulnerability, I can take inspiration from the words of Mahatma Gandhi I shared in my last post: : “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” So I decide to be the change I wish to see in the world.

Thanks for reading me.

Lots of love,

Núria :)

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