Monday Morning Motivational Message - Vulnerability

How often would you say you are in a vulnerable position or state?

When we are vulnerable, most of us don't like that feeling. The sense of being exposed makes us uncomfortable. We like to believe that we are in control at all times. But in reality, we know we aren't.

Empathy and open communication are two times when we expose ourselves to vulnerability.

Fr. Richard Rohr said: "Compassion and dialogue are essentially vulnerable positions. If we are into control and predictability, we will seldom descend into the vulnerability of undefended listening or the scariness of dialogue."

I've been fortunate to be a guest on over 600 different podcasts around the world. One of the criteria for publishing a good podcast is vulnerability. 

Most people can see through a lie and want to dialogue with people who are authentic. Part of being authentic is showing the good and the bad. To be a quality guest, you have to be willing to show the real you, warts and all.

In our personal and professional lives, having compassion for what others are experiencing and being willing to talk with them where they're at, can put us in a vulnerable state.

But how else can we truly connect with people without sharing their discomfort and letting them vent so we can empathize with their plight? 

Being vulnerable is a means to connecting with others, and by developing those relationships, we surround ourselves with people who want what's best for us, who are willing to invest in us, and who want us to succeed, and we want the same for them.

You can climb mountains with those types of people.

Please leave me a comment about your thoughts on the importance of being vulnerable and the benefits you derive from connecting with others.