Meditation Mon 2nd August - Reflection: Vulnerability

Shamanic & Awareness Meditation Mon 2nd August

7 pm – 8.30pm Sydney time (AEST)
Monday 2nd August 2021
Fee $10
Attend by zoom only (as we’re in lockdown)

You’re very welcome to attend for one evening or regularly. It’s suitable for both beginner and experienced meditators. We start with a short meditation to ground, focus and centre ourselves, followed by a shamanic meditation journey, where we increase our awareness, peacefulness and clarity. For further information about the meditation, go to: http://www.maretstaron.com/meditation

If you would like to attend, please let me know so I can send you further details and zoom link.

Vulnerability – is not a sign of weakness

I’ve always been a bit perplexed about what vulnerability really means. When I think about it, I could say that I’m allowing myself to be vulnerable when I can admit that I don’t know (especially if someone expects me to know), that I have made a mistake (especially if it results in another’s upset or anger), that I can’t cope at the moment (especially when people are used to me coping), or to speak my truth (especially if it means someone will no longer like me).

But is this what vulnerability’s about? I’d like to explore it a bit more and get clearer on what it means to me.

So, how do people who have researched vulnerability, define it? I often come across Brene Brown when I do an online search about vulnerability. She says “Vulnerability is not weakness. I define vulnerability as emotional risk, exposure, uncertainty. It fuels our daily lives. And I've come to the belief -- this is my 12th year doing this research -- that vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage -- to be vulnerable, to let ourselves be seen, to be honest”. (https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame/transcript)

I really like that bit about letting ourselves be seen and being honest. I think I can say that I am letting myself be seen and be honest, in the first para (above). But following on from what Brene Brown says, it’s about always being honest, always letting ourselves be truly seen. I’m not sure that I always do that.

What could be the opposite of vulnerability? For me it’s about never admitting you’re wrong, by suppressing emotions, by always projecting a successful, in-charge persona, by holding tight to your world view and disregarding anything that challenges it, or simply by conforming and always doing the ‘right’ thing, following society’s standards and not your own when it conflicts with your authenticity.

I would think vulnerability allows us to become more receptive, empathic and have more humour and light-heartedness in our lives. We’re prepared to be more open to differences. I love the description I once read in a book written by Dom Bede Griffiths, that one of the most important things we can do is find “unity beyond differences”. And I think vulnerability very much allows us to do that. It’s very much what the world needs now.

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