What does it mean to be vulnerable?
According to Verywell Mind, to be vulnerable is being in a state of emotional exposure that comes with a degree of uncertainty. This involves being willing to accept the possibility of being hurt and the risks that come with being open with others and yourself.
Key takeaways
- To be vulnerable is to accept the risks that come with being open to others, especially emotionally.
- Examples of being vulnerable with someone include sharing personal stories, reaching out to people you’ve lost touch with, and asking for help during tough times.
- Being vulnerable is something that is fundamental to good emotional and mental health
- 6 reasons you should be more vulnerable in your relationships are that it helps your self-acceptance, it builds trust, it helps you feel closer, it improves communication, it helps meet your needs, and it leads to a healthier relationship.
- 4 steps you can take to become more vulnerable with others are to understand what vulnerability is, understand yourself on a deeper level, do things outside of your comfort zone, and to practice vulnerability.
What are some synonyms for the word vulnerable?
Some synonyms for the word vulnerable are:
- Exposed
- Open
- Susceptible
- Sensitive
- Naked
- Unguarded
- Accountable
- Responsive
What is an example of being vulnerable with someone?
Being vulnerable with someone comes in many forms. Some examples of being vulnerable in your everyday life can look like:
- Doing something you know you’re not good at
- Sharing a personal story that you normally would keep to yourself
- Reaching out to someone you want to reconnect with that you haven’t spoken to in a long time
- Allowing yourself to feel strong emotions like grief, sadness,
- Putting yourself out there and accepting the risk of rejection
- Telling others how you feel when you’re upset with them
- Talking about and owning up to mistakes you have made
- Showing someone that you care about them
- Trusting someone and opening up to them
- Establishing clear boundaries with others in your life
- Asking for help when you are struggling
- Saying no if you tend to say yes to in order to please others
- Accepting your imperfections rather than being insecure about them
Is vulnerability a good or bad thing?
Although the thought of being vulnerable can be scary, being vulnerable is actually a good thing for both your emotional and mental health. Not only is it good for personal development, but it also helps to strengthen your relationships and connections with others.
6 reasons why you should be vulnerable in your relationships
Now that you have a good understanding of what being vulnerable looks like, why is it important in relationships? Here are 6 reasons:
It improves your self-acceptance
Being vulnerable can increase your sense of worthiness and authenticity. It helps improve your own sense of identity and self-acceptance, which allows you to be more vulnerable with others.
It builds trust
When you open up to someone, you are showing them that you trust them. In return, they will likely feel that they trust you too, allowing for both parties to be comfortable displaying vulnerability with each other.
It helps you feel close to others
Similarly with trust, being vulnerable shows that you are comfortable around someone and helps you feel close to them. Sharing your thoughts, feelings, and stories helps you get to know someone better and build a strong relationship.
It results in better communication
Being vulnerable helps you truthfully communicate your thoughts and feelings to others. When both parties feel comfortable doing so, this improves a relationship’s communication.
It increases your chances of having your needs met
Being vulnerable includes being open about what you need and want in a relationship. By doing so, the other person is better able to understand and meet your needs (and vice versa).
It helps create a healthy relationship
All of these reasons together prove that vulnerability can create a healthier relationship. If someone does not respond to your vulnerability in an open and positive manner, it shows that it’s not a relationship that works or one that needs to be worked on.
4 steps you can take to become more vulnerable with others
Step 1. Understand what vulnerability looks like
To become more vulnerable, you need to first understand what vulnerability is and what it looks like for you. You need to accept that being vulnerable is an important part of personal and relationship development.
Step 2. Get to know yourself on a deeper level
In order to become vulnerable with others, you need to first look inwards at yourself. The more you understand yourself on a deeper level, the better you’ll be able to express yourself to others and be comfortable showing vulnerability.
Step 3. Do things that are outside of your comfort zone
By doing things that are outside of your comfort zone, you are allowing yourself to grow and be vulnerable to risks that come with doing so. You’ll likely find that things that you found daunting are not as scary as they seem. Or you’ll find that they are difficult, and you aren’t good at them. Either way, if you don’t push yourself outside of your comfort zone, you won’t be able to open yourself up to new experiences.
Step 4. Practice vulnerability
Finally, becoming more vulnerable takes practice. By actively putting yourself out there, being vulnerable will become more natural for you. This will allow you to truly embrace vulnerability in yourself and in any relationships with others.
Related Readings
Getting People Right (GPR) is an educational website providing professionals from all types of businesses with practical education in human resources and leadership. To keep evolving your leadership toolkit, additional GPR resources below will be useful:
