Vulnerability is Bravery

To feel
is an act of vulnerability.

To open herself up to others,
make visible her heart,
is to allow others a way in 
to hurt her.

This scares her.

It’s much easier to seem
closed off,
private,
behind the scenes, 
guarded, 
“at bay.”

Contained. 
Inside a small box.

Here, is manageable.

At the risk of feeling
dissected, 
rejected,
and judged, 
by the recipient of her love

she hands over
her heart.

Note

It is scary to be the first to allow for trust. Where in life do you feel most guarded? Where do you think that lack of trust of others comes from? What might happen if you shared more of your authentic self in this area of life?

Write

I feel most guarded with those with whom I’ve had past experiences of exclusion.

This comes in different forms. One form is pointing out in front of a group my significant differences from the majority - and it could be just about anything. I can be insecure like that.

When I’m posed with a question of interest 1:1, this feels safe. Really, any