"How vulnerable are you?" It's a seemingly simple yet deeply challenging and even frightening question to answer. Vulnerability can feel like getting lost in a well-known place and seeking guidance from someone else. It also involves letting go of control and allowing your emotions to lead you somewhere.

Perhaps for years, you've convinced yourself that you're not fragile at all, holding onto statements like "you're very strong" from others to reinforce this belief. You've felt a strong urge to maintain composure, and maybe you still do. Despite experiencing sad, frightening, anxious, and painful moments in life, you may not have reflected these emotions outwardly, appearing as if you handle these situations exceptionally well. Maybe childhood experiences have shaped you to believe that showing emotions or behaving childishly is a sign of weakness. As a result, you may have embraced this demeanor, where your composure acts as a wall or barrier protecting you from external threats. By suppressing your emotions, you may have prevented them from flowing out or leaking.

While your mask and shield may seem to protect you, could they be preventing you from connecting with others? When you feel emotionally vulnerable and fragile, what do you do? Perhaps you feel fear, anxiety, or avoid confronting your vulnerable side, pretending that everything is okay, or maybe you laugh instead of crying.

Opening yourself emotionally to others and expressing your true feelings and emotions is akin to taking emotional risks. When you open up authentically, you cannot predict the reactions you will receive or the things you will hear. You might be judged, your feelings might be dismissed, or your experiences might not be understood. It's stepping into uncertainty where vulnerability lies. This act requires courage because it involves exposing your innermost self, which can be fragile and easily hurt. Yet, it's also a profound gesture of authenticity and connection, where you invite others to see and understand your true essence.

I strive to maintain a delicate balance between strength and vulnerability, seeking understanding and acceptance amidst the risks of being truly known. I come to realize our vulnerability when stripped of tags, masks, and defenses. This awareness leads me to see both our similarities and differences: We share common human needs, desires, fears, and anxieties, yet our individual lives, experiences, expressions, and approaches to these aspects vary greatly.