The Strength in Softness: Why Vulnerability Is Essential to Your Healing Journey
When most people think of vulnerability, they picture weakness — exposed emotions, shaky truths, or moments when life knocks the wind out of them. You might associate vulnerability with being scared, or exposed.
But vulnerability isn’t the thing that breaks us. It’s the thing that opens us, softens us, and allows real healing to take place.
If sustainability is about building habits that support your growth long-term, vulnerability is about letting those habits come from the truest version of you — not the hardened, masked, or over-functioning version you learned to perform.
In this post, we’re exploring vulnerability as a strength, a practice, and a pathway to deeper connection with yourself, others, and your Faith.
Let’s dive in.
What Vulnerability Actually Is
Vulnerability is emotional honesty. It’s openness. It’s telling the truth about your inner world instead of pretending you’re fine. And not just to others, but to yourself.
It’s kind of like learning to call yourself on your own bullshit. Which I know… is incredibly difficult, and uncomfortable.
Sometimes it’s as simple as saying to yourself:
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I need help.”
“I’m hurt.”
“I’m proud of myself.”
“I’m afraid, but I still want to try.”
Vulnerability isn’t reckless sharing or chaos dumping — it’s intentional, conscious truth-telling. It’s letting your heart speak before your fear shuts it down.
Why We Avoid Vulnerability
Unfortunately, most of us weren’t taught that vulnerability is safe. In fact, most of us learned that being vulnerable means being exposed, and easy to harm.
And the truth is, that’s not entirely wrong. When you’re open and honest, and laying your soul bear to another person, they CAN hurt you. You’re hoping they don’t, but they very well could.
However, if you live in fear like this, you’re not truly living, now are you?
Far too often, what we’re actually taught is: Don’t cry. Don’t bother anyone. Don’t let people see you weak. Don’t take up too much space. Don’t admit you need anything.
So we adapt by armoring up.
We stay quiet.
We pretend.
We perform.
We power through.
But here’s the truth: Your armor might have protected you once… but now it’s keeping you from connection, support, softness, intimacy, and joy.
See, we can’t shut out the bad and the bad only. If we close ourselves off to protect ourselves from the evils of this world, we are also closing ourselves off from experiencing the joys of this world.
Shut down, is shut down.
And healing requires us to open up. Opening up requires truth. And the truth? Requires vulnerability.
The Power of Vulnerability in Healing
When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you invite:
Deeper connection: You can finally be known and understood.
Emotional intimacy: You let people meet you where you are.
Self-acceptance: You stop fighting your own humanity.
Freedom: You no longer have to “perform” wellness — you get to live it.
Alignment: Your inner and outer selves begin to match.
Vulnerability is not a one-time leap. It’s a muscle. Every time you practice it, your life expands a little.
And healing… is all about building capacity, or rather, learning to live life without crumbling in the face of adversity.
Building Your Vulnerability Muscle
Vulnerability doesn’t have to be big, dramatic, or overwhelming. It can start with small, safe steps:
Share one honest sentence with someone you trust.
Say “I don’t actually have the capacity for that today.”
Admit you’re struggling — even just to yourself.
Ask for help in a tiny way.
Tell someone you appreciate them.
Stop minimizing your feelings.
Let someone love you, support you, or show up for you.
These small moments open your heart. And once your heart opens, healing can finally breathe.
A Spiritual Lens on Vulnerability
Scripture reminds us that our weakness is not a flaw — it’s where God’s presence meets us most tenderly:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9
Your softness is sacred.
Your honesty is holy.
Your vulnerability is where transformation begins.
We are human. Flawed. Fallen. And pretty dang weak at times. And that’s where God meets us.
He doesn’t ask us to show up perfect, He asks us to show up, period. He’ll take care of the rest.
It’s important to lean on our Creator for our strength. God’s power shines in our weakness. It’s a matter of letting Jesus take the wheel, not unlike Carrie Underwood.
It’s showing up knowing that God’s got you, and that God will work through you, move through you, and hold you through all hardship.
When it comes to God, our vulnerability is our full surrender to His greatness.
Isaiah 41:10 reminds us: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Hang onto that today, and always.
A Final Word
If sustainability is the structure of your journey, vulnerability is the soul of it.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to be strong all the time.
You don’t have to figure everything out alone.
All you have to be is real — even if that realness feels tender.
Your vulnerability is not a burden… It's an invitation.
To be seen.
To be supported.
To be held.
To be healed.
You deserve that.
Onward with love,
& BE WELL
L
