Vulnerability is the only path to authentic connection with another human being. Vulnerability is the way we share who we really are with someone else – by being honest with our feelings and needs, our histories and hopes for the future. Sometimes this is a very painful process. This is especially so for a victim of childhood abuse. For adults who had abusive parents, sharing their feelings and interests was dangerous, and expressing their needs futile. If as a child you are used to hiding who you really are or even automatically lying for fear that someone will trample all over the real you, being vulnerable around others will always be a slow and painful process. After all, you simply don't know who is safe.
The Painful Necessity of Vulnerability
The Painful Necessity of Vulnerability
The Painful Necessity of Vulnerability
Vulnerability is the only path to authentic connection with another human being. Vulnerability is the way we share who we really are with someone else – by being honest with our feelings and needs, our histories and hopes for the future. Sometimes this is a very painful process. This is especially so for a victim of childhood abuse. For adults who had abusive parents, sharing their feelings and interests was dangerous, and expressing their needs futile. If as a child you are used to hiding who you really are or even automatically lying for fear that someone will trample all over the real you, being vulnerable around others will always be a slow and painful process. After all, you simply don't know who is safe.