Vul-ner-a-ble (noun): "susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm."

It's not a pretty definition, I know. The world has put a negative connotation to the world "vulnerable" and, in all honesty, I can see why. It appears to mean that you are opening yourself up to severe damage and you are. However, I'm here to tell you why that's not a bad thing.

If you're hiding who you are, something that you believe, etc. because you're worried about what someone else will think, you're essentially rejecting yourself in order to avoid the mere possibility of rejection from someone else. The logic is something like, "I believe ___ about ____, but I'm not going to tell anyone in case they don't agree with me." Who cares? Go tell the world about your beliefs. Go tell someone that you love brussel sprouts, even if they don't like them and judge you for it. I hate them, but you do you. Be yourself and don't apologize for it. You are wonderful.

No one can ever emotionally wound you, only you can do that. There is not a person in this world who actually has the ability to hurt you unless you allow them to do so. So what if someone said that you look fat? "Fat" doesn't mean "unworthy." "Ugly" doesn't mean "unworthy." "Annoying" doesn't mean "unworthy." For the record, you are none of those things. You are wonderful.

Emotional vulnerability is also the key to connection with yourself and with other people. Think about your family and your closest relationships. They didn't get close to you because they saw the façade that you pretend to display — they saw the real you. When you pretend to be perfect, when you go to great lengths to show your selflessness, when you strain to do something that you don't want to do, and when you're trying too hard for someone to like you, you're cutting off the very possibility of someone seeing the real you. You are wonderful.

It's only when you allow yourself to make mistakes, to have "flaws," and to be wrong that you can grow. When you accept your vulnerability without beating yourself up in the process, you can really be you. You are wonderful.

We, as humans, crave acceptance, but we can only truly accept someone when they can accept themselves for everything that they are. We love when others are real with us, so we need to be real with ourselves because we are wonderful.