Vulnerability creates intimacy and emotional bonds by allowing someone to join us in our inner world. Without vulnerability we aren’t able to create depth of connection. Vulnerability is about opening up our heart to someone. It’s about saying, I’m letting you in, are you able to meet my in an emotionally deeper space? 

A lot of us don’t know how to vulnerable and are terrified of vulnerability because we think it could leave us open to rejection, or we think vulnerability means really huge and scary disclosures about our past or trauma. This is not and does not need to be the case. The best place to start with vulnerability is small statements about what you are feeling in the moment. This is easy to do once you start doing it! For example, an easy, straight forward vulnerable statements while on a date could be “I’m having such a great time, it’s been really nice connecting with you in person.” Or “I was pretty nervous before we met, but after being with you I’m feeling much more comfortable.” These are statements that start to lean into speaking straight from the heart, which is what vulnerability is really about. 

If you want to work on becoming more comfortable and confident with vulnerability in relationships, please reach out to me for counseling. I’m a psychologist that provides mental health therapy to adults in the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa bay area and I would love to work with you to help you connect more deeply in your relationships.