Vulnerability: April 2023
TRIGGER WARNING! The following sentences may make you feel uncomfortable... This month's value, vulnerability, is an unavoidable aspect of the human experience. Being alive has inherent and unavoidable risks, including sickness, aging, and death. Relationships change, and emotional or physical health is uncertain.
DON'T PANIC! Vulnerability is also a necessary ingredient for human flourishing. As Brene Brown reminds us, humans can experience joy, creativity, belonging, and love through vulnerable encounters. Practicing vulnerability provides opportunities to explore the complicated emotions of risk, uncertainty, and deep connections we can make if we embrace this value.
This month, Flourish will focus on the practices to develop this critical value and support your development as a human. We hope this month gives you the courage to be imperfect, self-compassionate, and connect with your community from an authentic space, essentially embracing and benefitting from vulnerability.
Cheers to embracing the unknown,
Caitlin
Our staff recommends the following resources for Digging Deeper into Vulnerability:
Meditate: Opening Up to Vulnerability with Ryan
Read: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown —Abby shared this about the book: "Brene forces the reader to take a hard look at what vulnerability is, why we're so afraid of it, what keeps us from allowing it (shame), and how it affects men and women differently. She uses her research data and personal insights to back up her theories and makes all her evidence digestible and easy to read and relate to! This book has helped me connect with others as a professional, friend, and partner and one I come back to for resources time and time again!"