7 Ways To Be More Vulnerable With Your Partner (Even If It's Hard For You)

"1. Get to know your inner world better.

In order to show people your true self, you need to know your true self. Allow yourself to notice how you feel in different situations, tune in to your body, and practice saying how you genuinely feel about things out loud.

2. Tell people how you really feel about things.

Once you’re more in touch with your own emotions, start communicating them to others. Missing one of your old friends? Send them a text and let them know. Did your partner hurt your feelings with a small comment they made this morning? Tell them honestly how it felt. Really enjoying hanging out with your sister? Let her know.

3. Accept the risk

The truth is, part of being vulnerable is accepting the risk of getting hurt. That means we can’t always wait for a situation where we’re perfectly safe or know for certain that we won’t get judged or rejected. Learn to practice acceptance for these moments and tolerance for the emotions that may come with it.

4. Work on healing your attachment wounds.

The fear of abandonment or getting hurt by others often stems from past experiences where that very thing happened. These are sometimes known as attachment issues, and it can help to explore these wounds with a mental health professional.

The goal is to develop what’s known as a secure attachment style. A securely attached person tends to be much more comfortable with vulnerability, according to licensed marriage and family therapist Saba Harouni Lurie, LMFT.

5. Invite feedback from others.

Asking your partner (or anyone) to give you their honest thoughts about you, your work, or your behavior is an intensely vulnerable act—but it’s also something that can lead to more intimacy and accountability in your relationships.

6. Be upfront about the things you want.

Vulnerability in dating can simply look like prioritizing your truth. It isn’t just about pouring your heart out and telling them all your traumas from the past (though that can be part of it, eventually). You can start with something as small as being open about exactly what you want from a potential relationship, or simply getting radically honest with someone you’re going on a date with.

7. Remember why you’re doing this.

We need to remember we're not being vulnerable to get people to act a certain way toward us. It's not a tool of manipulation. It's a tool of liberation. We do it for ourselves."

Read the full article on Mind Body Green

✨Takeaway: Vulnerability is not a tool of manipulation, but a tool of liberation. Knowing and understanding one's own emotions is important for being vulnerable.

✨Reflection: Why do you think vulnerability is often seen as a weakness in our society?

#Relationship #Partner #Vulnerability #Trust #MentalHealth #Communication

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