Be Vulnerable. It's Okay

“What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.” -Brene Brown

I'm an ENTJ Leo. Demonstrating emotions or any type of vulnerability has always been my weakest suit. However, after reflecting on my bad day today, I've learned a couple of things I would like to share with you.

1) Vulnerability is a choice

We choose to be weak and we choose to be strong. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the choices that we make. But in order to choose one over the other, we have to realize that as humans, it's perfectly normal to experience both ends of the spectrum. A strong person recognizing the things that make them vulnerable doesn't make them weak necessarily. It just means that they are more in tuned with their identities and the parts of them that are hidden from the public eye.

2) Vulnerability requires us to be ourselves

It's not always easy to be 100 percent yourself every single day, 24/7 a day. I've always been a person to put on my best facade whenever I'm around people. However, it's days like these when I realize that the people who truly care about me are the ones who will never judge me for admitting the struggles that I'm going through or the circumstance that I'm in.

There's always a chance that the other party would reject us, judge us, or misunderstand us. Instead of focusing on that, we should channel our energy in surrounding ourselves around positive and uplifting people.

3) Vulnerability gives birth to stronger connections and friendships

Here are three instances that has happened today that allowed me to realize who my true friends are -

#1: I told Jonathan that I was having a bad day. Immediately, he asked me what was going on and told me I could talk to him.

#2: Danny drove over to my house. I asked him where we were going. He said he wanted to take me out for dessert. Two macaron ice cream sandwiches and four hours of conversation later, I felt rejuvenated and better than before. He reminded me that I was so loved and that he would never mind going out of his way if that means he gets to see me smile.

#3 I didn't want to be expressive or say things I didn't mean so I avoid all types of communication the entire day. Does that happen to you? You're going through a rough patch and without realizing it, you've already built an invisible wall to guard yourself from others? Well, the most incredible part is when you find the people who are willing to go out of their way to break down those walls anyway. A friend of mine did that to me/for me. He encouraged me to be my authentic self---even if that means I'm grouchy as the Grinch before he stole Christmas.

When you make a choice to be vulnerable, you allow yourselves and others around you to get to know the part of you that's typically overshadowed by that sweet, loving, popular facade. This is also the part where you get to learn more about yourself and establish an even more solid connection with your friends, your family, etc. That openness that you're willing to share with others will only mean that the same group of people will gravitate and be more willing to open up to you when they're experiencing a not so great day.

I would like to thank the three people who stayed patient and kind with me today (as with any other day). You guys always make me the exception and I'm so grateful for that.

I'll end this post with a very powerful quote I've come across when finishing my reading earlier today.

When we numb sadness and pain, we numb joy and happiness. Feeling the depths of our lows enables us to fully feel the depths of our highs. It’s all connected. 

To be vulnerable is to be deeply seen. It’s to love with your whole heart and to put yourself out there. To feel vulnerable is to be alive—to exist as your most beautiful self.