The Darling of Emotions
Vulnerability has earned a lot of buzz in the last couple of years. Lengthy explanations of academic studies have let us know that it is alright to be vulnerable. At least some of the time. There are still options that make it taboo. When emotions become popular, we move them into more constant rotation. Humans like to reflect what is trendy as well as show that they have gained a better understanding. Move over, darling, our emotions want to sit with us.
Vulnerable You
In real life, when we notice another human’s vulnerability, it is a small cause for celebration. They have opened up their treasure chest of feelings for us. Lately, being vulnerable has demonstrated a willingness to appear as though having the courage to show previously hidden touchy-feely aspects of our insides can be coupled with being a better developed person. Vulnerability, like tears, used to have a personality problem that could be described as weakness. Recent study has brought it out of the shadows and encouraged it to be normalized. This is certainly enlightened. It’s not as if there weren’t tears in the past. But they were seen as a liability.
Vulnerable Me
The trouble lies in the history of that lesson. Emotions are entrenched for many of us. The fact is that when I attempt exposure, it does not feel exactly liberating. The human first person viewpoint of vulnerability hasn’t caught up. When the first taste of vulnerability climbs its way up my throat, I feel those old emotions that are attached accompany my fervent wish to protect myself. We can say all we want about the beauty of appearing open, but it hasn’t normalized yet because it hasn’t had enough practice without consequences. We all know what that means. No matter what emotion gets a make-over, it doesn’t change until it has had the opportunity to be used with better results. That means that vulnerability in the first person needs a lot more practice. That means that we need to show even more vulnerability just to get to the breaking point.
Me vs You
Let me reassure you. Seeing vulnerability in others is amazing. It is the steppingstone to the gate that lets the rest of the feelings out. Demonstrations of vulnerability should be applauded and accepted. The more difficult task will be to accept open vulnerability in ourselves. This is one of those chores that has to have its own public safety announcement beforehand so that the shock of hearing personal vulnerability doesn’t send my own mind into a tailspin. The trick is accomplished when the same reaction follows both. The goal is being proud of another human when they show vulnerability without too much drama. The goal is also to be proud when that same emotion comes from the insides of the first-person human. When the inside and the outside feeling of unearthing vulnerability are the same, humans have really won the game.
Where is it most dangerous to show vulnerability? Does vulnerability demonstrate strength or weakness? Can humans see eye-to-eye on how we respond to emotions?
