Being vulnerable

An Ecademy blog titled ‘Being vulnerable is good for you…NOT’ prompted me to make the following reply:

“We sometimes talk about vulnerability like its some kind of conscious style decision. ‘Shall I do vulnerable in this or that situation..?’

I prefer to see vulnerability not as a choice but as a consequence of a choice to be open; to be who I am rather than what my ego would prefer others to think I am; to risk being seen; to risk lowering my defenses; to communicate rather than react and create conflict.

To affect ‘vulnerability’ is about as manipulative a strategy as is the deliberate mirroring of body language in order to force ‘rapport’ and influence decisions.

For most people, being invulnerable means hiding behind heavier and heavier armour and striking out before anything or anyone can hurt them. Or hiding from the world in a cocoon of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, work, anger, relationships… the list goes on.

On that basis, being vulnerable is good for me.”