The Strength of Vulnerability

I hope you all had a nice weekend. We all have those times when we are feeling vulnerable and sometimes we view that as weakness but it is actually quite the opposite. As we shed the layers, what we find underneath is raw but authentic and that is where we can connect to our inner strength without ego or delusion. We create walls and defense mechanisms to “protect” ourselves from pain but all it does is block us. This quote explains it perfectly. 

“The heart itself cannot break, for its very nature is soft and open. What breaks open when we see things as they are is the protective shell of ego identity we have built around ourselves in order to avoid feeling pain. When the heart breaks out of this shell, we feel quite raw and vulnerable. Yet that is also the beginning of feeling real compassion for ourselves and others.” — John Welwood

On the mat we experience that sometimes; a vulnerability when our bodies release some of what we hold onto so tightly. We can feel an emotional release and then a lightness on the other side.

The same is true off the mat; vulnerability allows us to free ourselves from the stories we tell ourselves out of fear. We think these stories are protecting us but in reality they are blocking us from seeing what we need to see in order to make mindful changes and grow from them. This is not completely our fault. Rather it is a societal expectation to be “strong” and emotionless and to not show “weakness”. Yet, vulnerability actually makes us stronger. It allows us to be honest with ourselves which is scary at first but the result is powerful. We see clearly and can be compassionate with ourselves and others. From there we can cultivate the rare combination of clarity and lightness. I have been working on that myself these last few weeks and wish the same for all of you because what we find when we break down the shell is an open heart beneath. 

I am extremely blessed to share that there are only *2 SPOTS LEFT* for my Morocco retreat. Please see below if you would like more details or to sign up.