The Power of Vulnerability

Brene Brown – The Power of Vulnerability

Prior to conducting my interviews for my inquiry, I watched a Ted Talk by Brene Brown. This ted talk resonated deeply within myself and also enabled me to succeed further when interviewing as I was also able to consider my interviewees body language and thought processes due to my new found knowledge in the power of vulnerability.

The talk begins with the phrase ‘if you can’t measure it, it does not exist’.

Brown begins with connection. ‘Connection is why we’re here, it gives purpose and meaning to our lives’. The ability to feel connected is why we are here. Brene found that when asking people about connection they told her about disconnection.

Shame and fear unravel connection. Shame is the fear of disconnection.  Is there something about me that if other people see it or know it about me will mean that I won’t be worthy of connection. No one wants to talk about it and the less you talk about it the more you have it.

What underpinned this shame was excruciating vulnerability. In order for connection to happen we have to allow ourselves to be seen.

The people who have a strong sense of love and belonging are the people who believe they are worthy of this; worthiness.

If we were fear, we are not worthy of connection we are vulnerable.

Whole hearted people have a deep sense of worthiness. They have courage (the original definition is to tell the whole story with your whole heart). These people had the courage to be imperfect. The compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others. We can’t practice compassion with others if we can’t treat ourselves kindly. And they had connection as a result of authenticity. They were willing to let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they were, you have to do that for connection. They fully embraced vulnerability. What made them vulnerable made them beautiful. It wasn’t comfortable nor was is excruciating it was just necessary.

We numb vulnerability. You can’t selectively numb this without numbing other aspects and emotions. When we numb vulnerability, we also numb purpose, gratitude and joy and when we numb those, we are looking for purpose and meaning and then we feel vulnerable it becomes a dangerous cycle. Why and how we numb? Addiction, we make everything uncertain certain; religion. There’s no discourse in politics anymore there’s just blame; a way to discharge pain and discomfort.

We pretend that what we do doesn’t have an effect on people both in our personal lives and in corporate.

Final thoughts:

Let ourselves be seen. Love with our whole hearts. Practice gratitude and joy. I am Enough.