How to Avoid the Dark Side of Vulnerability

3 steps to follow to avoid hurting others with your healing

Photo by Bryan Do on Unsplash

Truth begets trust in relationships.

Your willingness to be open and share allows people to see you for who you are. It fosters connection because people connect to the humanity of your story. Your story helps them understand themselves and their part in life in new and different ways.

But, there is a dark side.

Because we connect through other people’s stories we may see things in ourselves that we are embarrassed by, fear, or loathe. By sharing your truth, you unearth the truth in others that they may not be prepared to deal with. When they are faced with their truth, they may react to you negatively, even harshly.

If you have ever uttered the words, “I’m so embarrassed for them”, that’s you transposing yourself into their experience and expressing how you would feel. And if it’s close enough to home, you do feel it.

Truth exposes other’s vulnerability as much as it does the one who shares.

So, what are we to do. We are vulnerable because it’s healing, but if our healing hurts others how should we proceed.

Write a letter to yourself first