For many of us, this uncertainty invokes our deep-rooted fear of rejection. Humans are wired with a need for belonging, and avoiding rejection is a powerful motivator. As a result, we often try to fit in or hide our true feelings rather than risk not being accepted. In the end, being emotionally vulnerable is not just helpful. Vulnerable definition: to choose to be authentic and show our true selves, despite facing fear and uncertainty that what we say, do, or feel will be rejected.
As a teacher, I continuously observe my teenage students trying to navigate the confusing high school world. This process amplified by hormones encompasses every decision they make: what they wear, who they hang out with, how they talk. There are a lot of emotions, but fear is perhaps the most pervasive one. Every time they approach a choice, questions race through their minds. Is this who I want to be? Will I be accepted for it? Most of us survived and perhaps crushed this high school experience.
The decisions we make to be our true selves have evolved past wardrobes to things like values and relationships. Our life is no longer defined by how we behave in the cafeteria, but how we act and treat each other in our daily lives.
Being vulnerable means choosing to be true to yourself for small-scale acts, such as daily interactions, and large-scale acts, such as life choices. All of us, always, are searching for the self-awareness to discover our true selves. Being emotionally vulnerable means that you are willing to engage in this self-discovery pursuit. And then, after you begin to discover who it is you want to be?
This discrepancy is not always our fault, either. Our brains are still functioning based on evolutionary DNA. Pay attention to these signs if you believe yourself to be vulnerable. You read in too much into these little acts of kindness thinking that they mean more than they do, when it might actually be just common courtesy. You worry about offending people too much so you make up for it by apologizing profusely to anyone and everyone.
Apologizing has become an involuntary reaction for you. Your mood is quick to change at any point in time. As a teacher, I continuously observe my teenage students trying to navigate the confusing high school world. This process amplified by hormones encompasses every decision they make: what they wear, who they hang out with, how they talk. There are a lot of emotions, but fear is perhaps the most pervasive one. Every time they approach a choice, questions race through their minds.
Is this who I want to be? Will I be accepted for it? Most of us survived and perhaps crushed this high school experience. The decisions we make to be our true selves have evolved past wardrobes to things like values and relationships. Our life is no longer defined by how we behave in the cafeteria, but how we act and treat each other in our daily lives.
Being vulnerable means choosing to be true to yourself for small-scale acts, such as daily interactions, and large-scale acts, such as life choices. All of us, always, are searching for the self-awareness to discover our true selves. Being emotionally vulnerable means that you are willing to engage in this self-discovery pursuit.
And then, after you begin to discover who it is you want to be? This discrepancy is not always our fault, either. Our brains are still functioning based on evolutionary DNA.
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