Vulnerability: Strength or Weakness?

Written by Debbie Martin M.Ed., MA, LPC, LMFT 

Vulnerability is something we all struggle with most of our lives. It seems like there is a learning curve deciding when it is appropriate to show our vulnerable side and when it is not. Of course, never showing our weaknesses is easier and protects us from everything--even love.

That's right! When we put up our shields to hide our vulnerabilities, we lose opportunity to connect with others. Feeling connected to others is not only a human need, it is also a necessary component for love to blossom.

Our life experiences with emotional pain and hurt can cause us to put up walls so tall that connection with others is almost impossible. We forget how to be vulnerable. We forget how to handle our painful feelings. We become stuck in constant figh ...