I often hear people talk about the importance of vulnerability and the power that it can bring to the lives of yourself and others. And while at a surface level I agree, there is a large part of me that has always struggled with finding true meaning in vulnerability. I'm often heard saying things like "I'd rather not share" or "I don't see why you need to know that about me" or "what's the point of me sharing a bunch of information - what are you going to do with it?"

I've been slighted by vulnerability in the past, and therefore wrote it off. But recently I've started to realize the beauty and power that really does come from being vulnerable. Brené Brown, a fantastic author and speaker, has a lot to say about vulnerability, and since she can say it way better than I can, I'll let her do the talking.

"What's the greater risk? Letting go of what people think - or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?"

"I spent a lot of years trying to outrun or outsmart vulnerability by making things certain and definite, black and white, good and bad. My inability to lean into the discomfort of vulnerability limited the fullness of those important experiences that are wrought with uncertainty: love, belonging, trust, joy, and creativity to name a few."

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection and the path to the feeling of worthiness. If it doesn't feel vulnerable, the sharing is probably not constructive."

"When you stop caring what people think, you lose your capacity for connection. When you're defined by it, you lose our capacity for vulnerability."

"Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in our lives or may leave without a moment's notice, who may be loyal to the day they die or betray us tomorrow - that's vulnerability."

"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light."

"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen."

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change."

These quotes really got me thinking about what it means to really be vulnerable and how that can add huge value to my life. Not only that, but when each of us chooses to be vulnerable, it leads to greater growth opportunities for everyone around us. I think that is so cool!

So vulnerability might be kind of scary, but I'm starting to believe that it's worth it, and I hope that can be an encouragement for you too.