“The essence of growth is the willingness to be vulnerable.”

“Vulnerability is not weakness, and the uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure we face everyday are not optional. Our only choice is a question of engagement. Our willingness to own and engage with our vulnerability determines the depth of our courage and the clarity of our purpose; the level to which we protect ourselves from being vulnerable is a measure of our fear and disconnection.”

Brené Brown

Reflections

My upbringing led me to believe anything less than perfect was unacceptable. Failure to live up to this standard was often met with criticism, which led to a sense of shame. Upon reflection, it seems I’ve protected myself from being vulnerable to avoid shame.

I’ve come to realize the purpose of criticism is not to make you feel weak and inadequate, but rather to help you identify areas of weakness. Criticism serves to direct your attention to potential gaps in your thinking that may be inhibiting your growth; it’s an essential component of the growth process.

Over the past few years, I’ve hesitated sharing my creative work in fear of criticism. I now see that this has limited my potential for growth. Here’s to letting go of fear, being vulnerable, embracing the unknown, and trusting my intuitions.