Forging Connections

Vulnerability is one of the more difficult character traits that we as humans possess. Some people find it hard to open themselves up and to be susceptible to being hurt. To fully embrace vulnerability can be a tough, yet very rewarding experience. It allows one to fully embrace who they are and to let the people around them in and show them who they are and what they have been through. Brene Brown said being vulnerable is necessary and I would agree with her. For me being vulnerable has been uncomfortable, but they say when you go outside of your comfort zone you truly experience growth and learning. In my close relationships I have seen that these people around me who care about me want me to be vulnerable with them because it shows a sense of trust and security with who I am with them and what they mean to me. I have found that opening up is good and it feels great to let ourselves be deeply seen by others and I think for that reason that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. There is always going to be a chance that we will get hurt or we will be betrayed, but that is a risk we are willing to take to share in these moments of true intimacy and closeness. Brene Brown said being vulnerable is “to do something where there are no guarantees” and this is a reason why being vulnerable can be challenging for people. A lot of people are scared of uncertainty and lack of guarantees; they are afraid of the grey area.  

The Essence of Who We Are

We try to live each day by a set of values that define who we are as a person, and sometimes it isn’t always apparent what exactly these values. Assessments such as the VIA Character Assessment show us how our actions or thoughts align with these values. These values are the core of who we are and how we act and it is eye opening when you can answer some questions and they generate of list of your values.  I think my top character strengths aligned with who I am and the way I approach each day. Honesty was my first strength and I think it is a very important characteristic to possess because it is important to be someone that people can trust and to be able to trust that you yourself will live by your set of values and ideals. Hope was another one that was pretty high up for me and I really liked seeing this value up high. I find it important to always be able to find the positive in all situations and to always be able to look through tough situation to see what awaits you on the other side.

One value that I sometimes struggling with is the Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. It can be easy to get into a routine with classes, studying, work, and other daily tasks that we forget to be thankful for everything around us. Every so often it is important to just stop and be thankful for everything that we have and the opportunities that are all around us. We are lucky to be attending such a great university and it feels good when I am walking to class or running to just thank about how fortunate we are to have what we have.