3 ways we block vulnerability & how to let down our walls.

It is when we lean into our softness that we unearth our greatest strength.

Bella Martin
5 min readNov 16, 2023
Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash

True vulnerability is admitting we can get hurt, accepting that sometimes we must, and allowing ourselves to show up authentically anyway because being rejected for who we are is much better than being respected for who we are not.

Experiencing the full extent of joy even at the risk of experiencing the full extent of pain is better than being disconnected. Expressing who you are even at the expense of judgment or criticism is ultimately more rewarding than a shallow sense of belonging in places, with people, that were never meant for you.

We associate vulnerability with fear, shame, and even weakness when it is actually a source of courage, humility, and the most resilient form of strength. In her book, Daring Greatly, vulnerability expert Brené Brown outlines the ways we block vulnerability and offers suggestions on how to break through our walls to lead more wholehearted lives.

Here are 3 ways we close off our hearts and how we may once again open them because accepting we can get hurt is also how we heal. It’s also how we guide ourselves back home.

  1. Foreboding Joy.

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Bella Martin
Bella Martin

Written by Bella Martin

Words of healing, hope & happiness. | Find me on instagram @bellamwrites