“What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.” ~Brené Brown
To be vulnerable is to be free.
It gives you a break from trying to pretend you’re always right and you don’t have any flaws. It gives you permission to show your authentic self and stop taking responsibility for the way other people perceive you. It allows you to try new things and take the risk of feeling awkward or uncomfortable.
It also opens you up to the possibility of pain. We never know when we let our guard down that other people won’t hurt us, unintentionally or otherwise.
We can know, however, that the pain of closing ourselves off to people and possibilities is far more dangerous than the potential risks of opening up. We’re just not meant to be isolated. We need to really connect with each other.
Today, if you feel tempted to shut down and retreat into yourself, ask yourself : What’s the best thing that could happen today if I decided instead to move outside this place that feels safe?
Photo by Thomas Euler
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.
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Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
I needed to read this today. I’ve been thinking a lot about vulnerability recently and this says it all so succinctly. Thanks!
Very nicely said!! I don’t like feeling vulnerable, but I see it a little differently now. xo
Very nicely said!! I don’t like feeling vulnerable, but I see it a little differently now. xo
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thanks for this post. i don’t know how you always know exactly what i’m thinking
I love this! Fear of awkwardness and discomfort are like fences that keep us stuck in familiar parts of ourselves. When we knock those fences down, we find a whole set of inner qualities that are ready to run free.
Thank you so much for this post! 🙂
Thank you for reading!
Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing your perspective. =)
I suspect it’s because we’re all pretty similar. I tend to write about the things that are most helpful to me, and I always need reminders to let go and put myself out there. Thank you for reading!
I’m so glad to read that!
You are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
Gorgeous photo on the “vulnerability”. The post is also a timely reminder.
Sitting in Brooklyn in a snow storm and my friend in Australia posted this.
Love it! And thankyou.
[…] According to the Tiny Wisdom Blog’s article on being vulnerable: […]
This is beautiful. All my life I’ve been afraid that my vulnerability is alienating me from people, because it made them feel so much uncomfortable, but then I started to hide, and turns out hiding is much much more exhausting than just being authentic. I recently started a blog and I’m gonna start taking more chances!
That’s wonderful that you’re going to start taking more chances! I actually felt the same way about my vulnerability–but I’ve realized there are other people out there like me (like you for example!) There are people who will appreciate us just as we are. =)