Vulnerability is a word we hear a lot in the lexicon of mental health lingo.
But what does it mean to be vulnerable?
It is no surprise, then, that many people resist vulnerability nobody wants to feel hurt.
“It means putting your heart on the line, even if that means heartache.”
Resisting vulnerability can be both a conscious act and a subconscious pattern that you might have adopted over time.
Becoming aware of when you’re resisting being vulnerable can tell you a lot about yourself and your relationships.
Being vulnerable is a skill that can, with practice, feel easier to do.
Understand that resistance is often an expression of fear.
When it comes to resisting being vulnerable, are you afraid that your partner will invalidate your feelings?
Are you scared of creating a conflict?
Are you worried your partner will leave when they know your true feelings?
The truth is that how your partner reacts to you is out of your control.
And what might change as a result of being vulnerable might also be out of your control.
When you put your emotions out there, you may at first feel like an open target to unpredictability.
Licensed couples therapist Alicia Munoz toldMindBodyGreenthat closing yourself off from vulnerability can also be painful.
Knowing how your past experiences might influence you now can make being vulnerable less opaque.
Consider the last time you were vulnerable with someone else.
So, we avoid it.
Although it can take practice to truly believe,being vulnerable can lead to positive outcomes.
What if your partner affirmed your feelings, and held you close?
What if your bravery inspired your partner to open up about an emotional pain they were holding onto?
Being vulnerable can do that, too.
