To me, vulnerability is like standing in the open meadow with no trees to hide behind—fully exposed to the sun, the wind, and even the storms. It is the willingness to be open and authentic, even when there is a risk of judgment, rejection, or misunderstanding. Like nature itself, vulnerability carries both beauty and risk. It creates space for connection, just as rivers carve valleys, but it can also leave us raw, like a tree bent under heavy snow.

Brené Brown puts it beautifully: vulnerability is choosing to love with our whole hearts even when there is no guarantee of the outcome. It is practicing gratitude and joy even in moments of fear or uncertainty, much like finding wildflowers blooming after a harsh winter. At its core, vulnerability is about believing we are enough, that our worth is not measured by perfection or control, but by our willingness to show up as we are.

My definition of vulnerability has shifted over time. I grew up in a era where it was often seen as weakness, like a cracked branch ready to break. For years, I hid behind a shell, afraid to be seen. But life has a way of teaching us differently. Just as storms strengthen deep roots, sharing openly with others has shown me that vulnerability is not weakness at all, it’s resilience. It’s how we grow, bend, and keep reaching for the light.

Personally, I’ve carried vulnerabilities that made me feel untethered, like being far from home without the familiar grounding of my roots. I’ve wrestled with the fear of expressing emotions, as though letting them spill out would make me fragile. Yet time and again, I’ve learned that opening up is like breathing in fresh mountain air—it clears space for connection, for love, for freedom.

Vulnerability, to me, is about standing barefoot on the earth and remembering that discomfort, like rain, is necessary for growth. It humbles me, keeps me soft, and reminds me that everyone I meet is carrying their own weather system of storms and sunshine. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we meet one another in that wild, unpredictable, yet beautiful place of shared humanity.