No one ever wants to feel vulnerable in any way, shape or form. Supposedly it sets you up for failure, disappointment and disastrous things can come of it. That’s one way to think of it but the other is that good things can come from showing your vulnerability. No one is shielded from everything and that protection spell you cast on yourself won’t always be around. There are many ways to look at vulnerability but I am going to talk about it in the sense of the people around you. 

We always have our guard up with friends, family, lovers, whoever is around us. We never want to feel “weak” or “less independent” to the people around. We always want to be perceived in a particular way so as not to get categorized in these specific circles. The best example is men not showing emotion because they don’t want to be perceived as weak or “strong women” who always have their guard up in the fear of being let down. These are the main circles society always brings up when it comes to judging a specific group. “Why can’t you show more emotion and be more vulnerable?” or “You don’t have to have your guard up the entire time, you can be vulnerable with me?” If we look too much at what society dictates, we will never just be us, whenever we feel like it. There is no requirement on when, where and with who to be vulnerable with. Sometimes that takes time and just being comfortable with the right person or group. Some of my closest friends always come to me because I am the “strong” friend who doesn’t break. I’ve been broken and became vulnerable around the right people, because there is only but some much you can keep guarded. When you have people that make you feel safe with yourself, vulnerability is not even a thing. It’s nonexistent and you are just the real you. It takes time and it is never immediate but you also have to be in the mental state asking yourself if this is the right person to be vulnerable with. 

Once I open up, I’m a super softey with the right people who are part of my life journey. Life has been a roller coaster for me to understand more about me as a man and my vulnerabilities. I am all about living life, being happy, supporting those around me and accepting who I am. Being vulnerable happens at your own pace but understand what it means to be vulnerable for you. We all experience things differently.