“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”
-Dr. Brene Brown, TED Talk (Listening to Shame)
In her second TED talk, Dr. Bren Brown talks about the myth that vulnerability is weakness. In fact, when she asked the audience if they think of vulnerability as weakness when they envision themselves being vulnerable, the majority indicated that they did. When, however, she asked them what they thought when they witnessed vulnerability when watching TED presentations, the majority responded that they viewed it as pure courage. Brown defines vulnerability as emotional risk, exposure, uncertainty, stating that it fuels our daily lives and is our most accurate measurement of courage.
What would you do, think or feel differently if you were to break out of the myth that vulnerability is weakness and act from a place of knowing that it is actually pure courage? Imagine how innovative and creative you could be?
I think what people don’t realize is that courage can mean feeling vulnerability. I love your take on this, it’s hard to change something you’ve been taught your whole life but worth it.
Mr. Determined,
You make great points. Being courageous is about moving forward despite how vulnerable we feel.
And, it is enormously saddening that we have been taught this myth since we were children. I think the myth is particularly hurtful to men who are made to feel that vulnerability and masculinity are polar opposites when, in fact, they are completely compatible. It takes pure courage to move forward without a heavy shield in front of us.