Vulnerability
“I define vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure”
A Letter from our CEO Tamera Sutton
I have always tried to escape vulnerability like a kid trying not get hit with the ball during dodgeball. Being vulnerable always seemed like a sign of weakness. Women are always taught to be strong, courageous, fearless, unstoppable, and a leader. I always thought if I can avoid being vulnerable around people I could hide my weakness, my struggles, my hurt or any shame I have endured. I recently watched Brene’ Brown Netflix special. At the end of the show I was crying like a baby. I am not a crybaby or I didn’t think so. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t stop crying. I finally realized Brene’ brought something out of me I have been trying to mask for so many years my VULNERABILITY.
I know this is not just a me thing hundreds or maybe even thousands of women mask there vulnerability for whatever reason. Some women have no issue with sharing their vulnerability or being emotional in front of everybody. This is something I have never done. I have always been the one to cry in the shower or in my closet. I have never wanted to be vulnerable or emotional in front of NO ONE not even family.
So one week later I was looking for a different podcast to listen to I found Brene’ Brown again. I listen to podcast a LOT. Maybe I will share a post of my favorite that have helped me spiritually, and in my entrepreneurship journey later. I wasn’t looking for Brene’ Brown I was looking for Oprah SuperSoul podcast and her interview was the first to pop up. I said to myself here we go again but I chose to listen anyway.
Brene’ stated “We are trying to dress rehearse tragedy so we beat vulnerability to the punch.” Basically we are afraid to be happy or think of the bad while experiencing the good in our life. This truly hit home for me. I have a hard time embracing or just living in the good. Before you start thinking you are just ungrateful that is not the case. I believe we can be grateful but have experienced so much bad we continue to be on high alert for it.
During the interview Oprah stated what she believes attributed to her much success was being able to be vulnerable with her audience. This really had me thinking. I thought about The Oprah Winfrey show and she is absolutely right she was always vulnerable with her audience. She cried they cried, She laughed, they laughed, She got encouraged they got encouraged. Then I began to think what I am gaining by hiding my vulnerability what brought me to tears was what example am I setting for my daughters by not being vulnerable.
My oldest is already going in that path. I thought about how she is not emotional like me, she isn’t vulnerable. This is not the example I want to set for them. I want show them Hurt hurts but its okay to let it pass through. Failure hurts but its okay but its okay to let it pass through. Don’t stay in it and don’t let it consume or overwhelm you. This is the example I should be following and sharing with my girls.
Then I began to think about my businesses, my love for inspiring people, and Memphis Women Rock. How can inspire people without creating a conversation on why they are not inspired, or what caused them to no longer be inspired.
“Vulnerability is not a weakness.”
I am accepting Vulnerability doesn’t make me weak. It actually make me human. I want to accept responsibility for my emotions, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Let me know in the comments how you deal with vulnerability, and here is a link of the video from Youtube. I pray you gain something from it just as I did.
-Be Blessed
Tamera
