Positive Vulnerability

My cousin recently sent me an interesting video called "The Power Of Vulnerability." {The whole video can be watched here} In this video, a woman named Brene Brown gives 20 minute speech about her research on human connection. After years of conducting studies, she has concluded that the basis for forming strong relationships is vulnerability. At one point in the video Brown says, "In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, really seen."

When she said this, I was reminded of the conversation in class we had about people putting on a different persona depending on the situation they are in and the people they are interacting with. According to her statement, it seems that the people who have the strongest relationships in their lives are also who wear the fewest masks. This video explains that those who are happiest with their lives were the ones who embraced vulnerability, rather than trying to cover it up (by putting on a mask).

It makes sense to me that a relationship with feelings of vulnerability is stronger than a relationship without any. Although vulnerableness generally has a negative connotation, I think that when regarding a relationship, it directly correlates with genuineness. If one is feeling vulnerable about a relationship it can only mean that they truly care about the other person. The one with whom the relationship is being formed was able to make a real connection to the person behind the mask, rather than a superficial one by connecting only to the mask itself.