Arianna Merritt, M.Ed.

View Original

Vulnerability Does Not Equal Weakness

Arianna Merritt

I love when messages come into our hearts at the moment we need them the most.  I had such a chance encounter today.

I went into a coffee shop this morning for my morning java, where I saw numerous people on their laptops.  As I was waiting in line, I overheard people talking about their favourite blogs.  There it hit me: my thoughts are online and totally public.  Anyone can access my blog and know the random thoughts that are going through my head. All of a sudden, I became a little anxious about “putting myself out there” through my blog.  I feared that people may judge me, thinking I am weak for exposing my insecurities and being vulnerable on my blog.

That was my morning.  It got me thinking, why am I doing this?  Why am I putting myself out there in this critical society? Should I be quiet, and not share? But then I checked out my blog’s visitor count, and saw almost 20,000 visitors!  I realized that I am so blessed to have my readers and contributors in my life!  Thank you to all of you, readers and contributors! This count re-affirmed that I must continue my vision for my blog, as it is important to me, and to others. Like a good friend told me yesterday, she loves my blog, as it is “self-help on steroids.” It gives her hope.

Reasons why I will continue to be vulnerable and share through my blog:

1) I know I am on the right track, as it is challenging.  The best things in life take risks.

2) Speaking up used to scare me. But, as Susan Jeffers says, “Feel the Fear and do it ANYWAY!”

3)The letters I get from readers saying they have been inspired.

4) I love sharing and meeting new people. I have amazing readers and contributors. You give me strength to persist.

5) Mental health issues need to be talked about.

6)There are so many life lessons to share.  We should never stop learning!

After realizing that readers and contributors are benefitting from me putting myself out there on my blog, I heard a new talk by Brene Brown.  Her first message shows that vulnerability is not weakness; rather, it is courage.  Then I went online and heard the new talk by Brene Brown, and her first message is that vulnerability is not weakness its courage.  She started talking about how she was anxious about sharing her message and for people to see her Ted Talks video. I love this one.

Brene Brown’s message was encouraging, and exactly what I needed at that moment.  It gave me renewed stamina to continue sharing on my blog, to being vulnerable.   While I can’t change what people will say about me, but I can change how I react to them.  I won’t let the critics stop me from sharing what is on my heart.

It's funny because I thought of this quote on the drive home from the coffee shop, and then Brene Brown mentioned it in her talk.

As Theodore Roosevelt says, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Have A Great Weekend Everyone!

Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.

See you at the beach!

Related articles