A Call to Courage
Today is a post about courage and the vulnerability that is required to be courageous. You may be thinking, “So what?” “Why does this matter?” I know I’m thinking that too honestly. But in all seriousness, courage is required to live a beautiful life. And vulnerability requires courage. Vulnerability is required for healthy, happy, beautiful living.
A few days ago I watched the Brene Brown talk that’s on Netflix called A Call to Courage. That is my inspiration for today. Her words were insightful, hilarious, compelling, and honest. She had a variety of really powerful moments in her talk, and many stood out to me: The story we tell ourselves matters. Belonging is the opposite of fitting in. We all crave belonging, love, and joy. Vulnerability is risk, uncertainty, and emotional exposure. Joy is the most vulnerable emotion.
That last piece, about joy being the most vulnerable emotion, really got to me while watching her talk. I got goosebumps and my eyes burned with a few little tears when she said that, because I love joy. Joy is my thing. I identify with this experience so profoundly. And yet, what seeks to destroy my joy is exactly what I can use to springboard off of to keep joy alive. Every opportunity for failure or exposure or discouragement can actually pave the way for success, being known, and being built up. When we risk exposure, we can actually end up being seen and, as a result, loved. To love is to be vulnerable.
Joy is vulnerable because it is emotionally exposing, and though it is absolutely contagious, it’s risky business. Someone may not reciprocate our joy. Someone may criticize it as “too much” or “not enough” or “unnecessary” or any other number of hurtful things. But truly, do those comments really matter? We can’t be everything to everyone. That would be exhausting and a complete waste of time.
My encouragement to you today is to be courageous. To take some risks. To dive in. Yes, you could easily get hurt. But rather than thinking about everything that could go wrong, think about everything that could go right. It’s risky, it’s exposing, it’s a challenge to get it. But it will absolutely be worth it.
C.S. Lewis said it best:
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
