“I define vulnerability as uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. To be human is to be in vulnerability.”
~ Brené Brown
This Brené Brown quote just struck such a chord with me. It captures something profoundly truthful about the human condition. Something that feels especially relevant right now. There just seems to be so much about life we can’t control at the moment. It’s a constant round of worrying events, uncertainty, and frustration, both locally and globally. Whether it’s the cost of living, changes in the workplace, or the ongoing sense of instability in the world, so many of us are living with heightened levels of anxiety and unpredictability.
In such times, it feels good to have a reminder that vulnerability isn’t necessarily a negative thing, especially when many of us might be feeling particularly fragile or exposed. “To be human is to be in vulnerability” how reassuring is it to hear someone point that out? I don't know about you but sometimes I just really need to be reminded of that fact.
It reframes vulnerability not as a flaw or weakness, but as an integral part of who we are.
Too often, we associate vulnerability with being powerless, with failing to cope, or with showing too much emotion. Yet, Brené Brown’s work teaches us that it is exactly this openness; this willingness to face uncertainty and risk; that makes genuine connection and growth possible. It’s not a weakness. It’s perfectly natural to feel vulnerable in the situations that life throws at us.
Life is so very different for most of us now. Change is hard, and we often feel that we have little or no control over many of the adjustments we are expected to make whether in work, in family life, and in dealing with broader economic pressures. The challenge lies not in eliminating vulnerability but in learning how to live well within it.
When we acknowledge our vulnerability, we create space for authenticity and self-compassion. Instead of denying our emotions or pretending to have everything under control, we give ourselves permission to be human. And it’s in that space of honesty that we find courage, the quiet, steady kind that allows us to face the unknown one step at a time.
If you are struggling with the situation you find yourself in, try using the image of a lion peering out from behind a tree to help reflect on your emotional status. What do you see as you study him? For me, he represents both courage and vulnerability. Strength and uncertainty coexist in his stance much like in the quote itself. The lion embodies wisdom, patience, and discernment: knowing which battles to fight and when to step back.
In that image, I find a reminder of what it means to navigate change with grace. There is power in restraint, in knowing when to move forward and when to pause. There is also quiet confidence in acknowledging fear without letting it dominate our choices. Like the lion, we can embody both strength and sensitivity; two sides of the same coin that help us adapt and endure.
This reflection has been useful for me during times of upheaval. It helps to focus on qualities that sustain resilience and enables the wisdom to follow new paths that open up before us, strength to face the unexpected, and courage to admit when we feel vulnerable. These are not signs of defeat; they are markers of emotional maturity.
At the same time, it’s essential to remember kindness. Particularly toward ourselves. When we are facing uncertainty, self-criticism can easily take hold. Yet the ability to extend compassion inward strengthens our capacity to show compassion outward. Always find ways to be kind to yourself. This could mean allowing rest, acknowledging small achievements, or simply giving yourself time to process difficult emotions. In doing so, you nurture the emotional balance needed to support others with patience and empathy.
Vulnerability, then, is not something to resist or hide. It is a reminder that life’s unpredictability is part of what makes it meaningful. To live fully is to accept that there will always be elements beyond our control, the risks we must take, emotions we must feel, and moments when we must step forward despite fear.
Brené Brown’s insight offers a grounding truth: to be human is to be in vulnerability. Rather than striving for perfect control or emotional invincibility, we can choose to embrace the reality that vulnerability is where our strength begins. It is in uncertainty that we find creativity, in emotional exposure that we build connection, and in risk that we discover courage.
In a world that often rewards appearances of certainty and control, remembering this truth can be liberating. Vulnerability doesn’t make us weak; it makes us real. And perhaps, in embracing that reality, we can navigate the challenges ahead with greater wisdom, courage, and compassion:- for ourselves and for those around us.