Sunday, March 11, 2012

Closeness is based on shared vulnerabilities.  Nothing deepens a relational bond more than when we share, feeling flayed, our skins peeled back, scared and vulnerable while someone is there willing to share the scary stuff with us.  Allowing our human side to shine through is what makes us stronger, not weaker, for it takes great strength to reveal when we’re not at our best, feeling susceptible in one way or another.  It’s through our revealing that we open ourselves to the amazing gift of letting another step up and comfort us.

By giving someone the opportunity to help, we communicate that we trust that individual.  Doing so without reservation or expectations paves the way for our relational bond to be strengthened as we lean on that person, them supporting us in our time of need.

In order to make the process of opening one’s self up to support when feeling vulnerable easier, it’s helpful to remember that no one manages to navigate through life’s journey without sustaining a few bumps and bruises along the way.  Though their “cuts and scrapes” may not exactly match our own, by understanding what it feels like to be vulnerable, others gain the compassion required to empathize, reach out and support us when we need it most.  It’s through this shared vulnerability and comforting that our relational bond is built stronger.