So much depends on my willingness to be vulnerable. I am gradually beginning to accept that I just might not be in charge. Nor do I have to be in charge. Yielding to ‘what is’ is one of my greatest arenas of vulnerability. That includes yielding to what I am, what others are, and what is happening.
I am vulnerable because I want others to be able to see me just as I am. There must be no pretense. Things are not in my hands as I once thought they were. I allow more things to happen without a great deal of planning. I relax more and simply experience whatever happens. I rely on my instincts and insight to know how to respond.
I am more prepared and able to accept what comes my way, whoever comes my way with the confidence that all I really need to do is be present. I do not intend to try to change or resist what exists. This feels incredibly vulnerable.
I try to see others just as they are and not as I might want them to be or imagine them to be. There is little attempt to make them different to meet my expectations. I simply expect them to be present and be themselves. I have a willingness and vulnerability to fall in love at least once a day, again and again and again. It gets quite easy once I drop my expectations, my defenses, my cautions and become vulnerable.
Being vulnerable means I am willing to accept the consequences. That reminds me that I do have my limits. I am not always willing to accept all the consequences. I’m not sure yet if this is still self protection or simply an aspect of wisdom and insight. I know that I am still willing to put limits on my vulnerability . Those limits, however, are diminishing.
Being vulnerable has meant becoming more aware and accepting of my shortcomings. There are so many things I do not do well. There is so much I do not yet understand.
But there is one thing that I do understand. The more vulnerable I become the more intimate I am with myself and the world in which I live. That is a very good thing.