A suit of armour from Alcazar de Colon, the home of the son of Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Vulnerability is basically uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. – Brene Brown
It’s been said about me that I can seem aloof at times or distant. I am guilty as charged. I am afraid sometimes to open up to people or to share my true feelings lest I am criticized for doing so. I see myself as a sensitive, caring, mostly optimistic person, so it hurts when that doesn’t seem to be the way others see me. It’s scary for me to let my guard down because I have in the past and I have been hurt because I did so.
When I am in a challenging situation, I can almost feel the suit materializing around me, locking my feelings inside. It’s difficult for me to be vulnerable because I feel like a turtle without her shell. If I allow others to access my thoughts and feelings, I can be stomped on and trampled and there will be nothing left of me. The easy thing to do is to put on my suit and close myself off from others, but I know that is a lonely way to live. It is only by allowing others to know me, warts and all, and opening myself up to being hurt that I can experience true happiness and belonging. Every day is a challenge, some more than others, but I keep trying to be open to the risks and rewards of being vulnerable. I am, as is every other human being, a unique, exquisite person and worthy of being loved. I need to remember that and to step out of my shell and let my armour fall to the ground.
Don’t ever try and be like anybody else and don’t be afraid to take risks. ~ Waylon Jennings
Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. – Paulo Coelho
picturingpositive 
It is not your problem; it’s the other persons own demons and issues… Who case what anyone else thinks… As long as you are content with yourself, that’s all that matter… Took me a long time to learn this… I’m much happier now… Live, Lor.
Sorry for my spelling mistakes… I have a fast finger & I can’t see small letters too well… I use my IPad fm bed to read blog, but reading is difficult fm such a small screen…
Very true, Lor! I do tend to sometimes worry too much about what others will think. I do think that as long as I trust my inner voice and act out of compassion for others and myself, I am doing what I should be. :). Thanks so much for the great comment! No worries ever about spelling, etc. I type from my iPhone and the results can be quite amusing at times 😉
As long as we have honest intentions and actions, nobody should ask for more. Too often, we spend our whole lives trying to be someone we are not just to please others. In that process, we can forget who we really are. In time, we learn to avoid those who drag us down. Cheers. Allan
Thank you Allan! I always appreciate your kind words and insight. One of my new favorite sayings is to find people who make you feel like sunshine. I think those are the ones we feel free to be our true selves with without having to worry about being judged. Cheers to you too! – Beth