Vulnerability: Showing Up for Ourselves

To be vulnerable with others means that we place ourselves in a position that could potentially harm us; a freakin scary feeling! We often resist being vulnerable with others and I get it!

I understand how hard it is to be vulnerable and how it takes courage. I've been there myself as someone who would try to fit in with the crowd and do what I needed to do to be loved. I felt that I had too many flaws, and my "special ability" made it even worse.

I struggled with the thought of who I was without my…fill in the blank (family, relationships, career). In my past, I would either keep my day as insanely busy as possible or fill the void with temporary pleasures, knowing it would only last a few hours or days. I didn't reach out to anyone because I thought I'd be a burden. It was scary to show up as my true self.

What changed my perception was when people I loved sat me down and asked some hard questions. Was I showing the real Sveta or was I just blending in? What was I trying to protect? What was stopping me from being vulnerable?

One of my friends told me something that stuck with me. It's something I now remind myself every day: "Show yourself kindness."

I know I won't be perfect but to try to show myself kindness when making mistakes or when I am not vulnerable. I realize that it's important to just be me - "just Svets". There's something so beautiful about that.

My daily vulnerability quiz: what steps will I take to be more vulnerable in my life? What could the community around me do to help make it easier for others to be as vulnerable?

And whatever my answers are for that particular day, I spend the rest of it practicing just that.