Practicing vulnerability

One of my main takeaways from 2025 is practicing vulnerability. Being vulnerable means to put yourself out there even if the outcome is uncertain.

From an early age I have often avoided rejection like the plague. Not doing something which has a chance of failure. And also taking failures very personally like it reflects on my entire being. I played a lot of competitive sports growing up but I also quit most of them whenever I faced an intense failure. Because I wanted to avoid the feeling of failure. Because I wanted to avoid being a failure.

Faking perfection is also something I have found myself doing. Trying to hide my faults. Posing to be someone I am not. Trying to look cool. Get attention. All this to ensure certain results. Or match a certain perfect image of myself in my head. Although this strategy never worked. So because of all this being vulnerable was really hard. Saying something that I want to say. Doing something that I want to do, whenever there is a risk of failure. So I always avoided it.

I discovered the growth mindset and getting better at something through repetition later in life. I realised that just because I am bad at something does not mean I will be bad at it forever and I can work on it, I can improve at it. There are also some things that are less important to me that I wont be good at and thats okay.

So over the past few years, with these new found realisations I have been on a journey to be more and more vulnerable. I have challenged my inner beliefs about myself and the world (fluid identity). I ask for feedback from friends and family that I trust (growth mindset). And I practice vulnerability by allowing myself in situations where the outcome is uncertain and I just be myself. Sometimes theres success and sometimes theres failure and thats okay but life goes on either way. By being vulnerable I open up a chance of success which is otherwise none. Also wheres the fun in life if you always know how your life will turn out!