Vulnerability: The Power to Meaningful Human Experiences
Researcher Brene Brown defines vulnerability as "consciously choosing not to hide your emotions and desires from others." In this episode of Get a G.R.I.P. with Coach Elix, co-host Steven F. Macek opens up with a story about his childhood and how avoiding vulnerability impacted him.
This episode, titled "Vulnerability: The Power to Meaningful Human Experiences," discusses the power of allowing oneself to embrace vulnerability and deepen connections with others.
Co-Host and Guest Steven F. Macek
Steven always offers a unique insight into the podcast as a spiritual medium, and today is no different. He and Coach Elix discuss vulnerability within their relationships and the benefits of embracing uncomfortable feelings in the name of spiritual growth.
Vulnerability and Your Spirit
External factors control you when you don't allow yourself to be vulnerable. Steven's father died by suicide when he was eight years old. Following his mother's lead, he and his siblings told people that his father had died from a heart attack for years, denying vulnerability by hiding the truth from people who might pass judgment.
Hiding the truth led to a shame cycle that kept Steven from living his truth for many years. His counselor helped him realize shame has a purpose and it's something to embrace rather than hide from. After this breakthrough, Steven learned to cope with shame and free his spirit.
Gain Freedom by Practicing Vulnerability
There are consequences to everything we do and everything we don't do. Avoiding vulnerability out of fear creates other consequences that may be worse than those you try to avoid by not addressing problems head-on.
Vulnerability is scary, but practicing putting yourself in low-stakes, vulnerable situations is a beneficial part of the growth process.
To experience vulnerability, get out of your comfort zone. Take a class or start a new hobby. Learning to fail is learning to embrace vulnerability.
In your relationships, try to share information you may have previously kept secret to avoid feeling pain, vulnerability, and shame. Sharing delicate feelings will deepen your connection with your loved one and create a safe space to continue practicing vulnerability. Being vulnerable strengthens relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners.
Men are conditioned never to show vulnerability, making practice especially hard. When combined with shame, many men never feel comfortable expressing themselves.
This is key: embracing vulnerability doesn't make you weak. It makes you stronger and helps you embrace your power.
Connecting with Steven F. Macek
The G.R.I.P. Method
G.R.I.P. stands for "Greatness Requires Intention & Purpose," and many who have followed this method can attest to that. This strategy helps people find their goals, inspirations, and visions and execute them with clear intentions through planning, purpose, and integrity. It works with science and psychology to make dreams a reality.
It is a roadmap that guides you through struggles and hardships, with the final destination being the life you want to lead or the changes you wish to make. The G.R.I.P. Method offers a plan to go from fear to freedom and helps you break away from where past attempts did not work.
