For my entire life, I have bristled when I hear someone of high regard or people in my own life share, teach and promote being vulnerable or vulnerability. And today I now understand why. You see, I was brought up in a culture where women have their defined and expected role in the home, in a world where women are still disempowered by others, in a world where women are hurt, pained, attacked, abused, wounded, treated less than whole and worthy, I'm standing for self love, understanding, compassion, open mindedness, open heartedness, acceptance, joy, and all of these things that are helpful to women, men, humanity and all living beings. Opening ourselves up to love and being loved can be one of the most difficult things to do in a world that is more connected than it has ever been and simultaneously more isolated than ever. And I believe it's because we were taught to be vulnerable. You see, vulnerability and love are opposing forces. They don't go together. Let me share the history of the word, of the words vulnerable and vulnerability, and the definitions with you. The origination of this word, circa 16th century. From Latin vulnerabilis means wounding, and it originated from the latin word vulneri, not pronouncing that well, but we're just going to roll with it, which means wound, hurt, injure, or maim. It's also from the, ah, root vulner, or vulneris, which is wound. In the early 17th century, it again shifted to the word. It didn't really shift, just documented that it means to wound, and it originates from vulnerus, which means wound. The definitions of vulnerable are able to be easily hurt, attacked or wounded, able to be easily physically, emotionally or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked, that's from the Cambridge dictionary. Capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt as by a weapon, open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, open to assault or difficult to defend. That's from dictionary. The quality or state of being, exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally, that's from the Oxford dictionary. Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded, open to attack or damage, that's from Webster dictionary and vulnerability. I think I've already said this, but I'm going to say it again. The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally, it's from the Cambridge dictionary. And then, capable of being physically or emotionally wounded, open to attack or damage. Merriam Webster also from Merriam Webster, the history of this word vulnerable. they state that vulnerable is ultimately derived from the latin word wound, and originally from the root word vulnerus, which is the latin verb which led to the latin verb vulnerari, meaning to wound, and then to the late latin adjective vulnerabilis, which became vulnerable in the early 16 hundreds. And originally this word meant capable of being physically wounded or having the power to wound. Now it states that having the power to wound is now obsolete. But honestly, since the late 16 hundreds, it's also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against nonphysical attacks. In other words, someone or something can be vulnerable to criticism or failure, as well as to literal wounding. And when it's used figuratively, vulnerable is often used by the preposition too, as in to be vulnerable. Also, a vulnerable person has historically been defined as, a person who is 18 years of age or over, also can be younger, who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness, or someone who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or serious exploitation. Unfortunately, being vulnerable or vulnerability is used in the context of being vulnerable to criticism that still doesn't feel good or feel, in highest service to humanity. To me, vulnerability is not a core or center of human experience. It does not mean the equivalent of courage or being brave or self love. To me, vulnerability engenders shame, self loathing, self deprecation, fears, loneliness, rejection, abandonment, isolation, depression, anxiety, and so much more. I hope you can feel the pain in my heart, that comes from all of the promotion, all of the writings. Just do a Google or bing search on this word vulnerable and vulnerability and how much promotion there is, for being vulnerable. And honestly, professions, have thrived out of people being vulnerable, out of people being wounded, out of people being attacked. Now, some of these professions, don't get me wrong, are pure in service and they are there really to help people. And I believe many teachers, sages, researchers, authors, speakers are well intended as well. however, I don't believe that it's having the consequence or the intended results over time and history for positive experiences. For, being healed, I don't come from the place of healing. Healing is a verb and it's ongoing. I'm a promoter of being healed and moving on from that which pains you. And vulnerability and being vulnerable does not create that state of being or that choice. Changing the meaning of this word with positive intent to make a difference in the world has not served humanity and does not serve humanity in its highest form. Going to the root and the energy of the word is important. Feeling the energy of the word is important to discern whether it's helpful or hurtful. And when I tune in to the words vulnerable or vulnerability, I just don't feel good about it. It does not bring out the best in me. It does not make me feel calm, compassionate, kind, open minded, or even open to life experiences and open to being present to other people and what they have to share with me. It shuts me down and quite frankly, gives others permission and dominion to harm me. This has unfortunate consequences on the health and well being of myself and humanity, especially for those who are sensitive, heart based, self respective, I mean, self reflective, introspective, empathic, those of us who really connect with humanity and all living beings. A well known teacher, researcher, speaker and author has said that vulnerability is not weakness and that myth is profoundly dangerous. That vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change. I don't align with that message. I do think that through our experiences, whether painful or good feeling, do birth innovation, creativity and change. But I also think and believe that we can feel into our experiences without having to be vulnerable. We can feel pain. We can feel, the goodness. We can feel, and receive feedback and input. We can receive, even. We can listen and hear criticism. But we don't have to be vulnerable. We don't have to take it on so deeply to where it takes what feels like an eternity to get through it, to recover from it, to, take it personally. I think that vulnerability has resulted in us taking things so hard, comparing ourselves to others, judging ourselves, and, being hurt and being attacked. You don't have to do that anymore. I invite you to stop listening to people, experts, researchers, authors, speakers, healers, teachers, or anyone who promotes being vulnerable or vulnerability. Because at the end of the end of the day, it does not mean what these people are promoting, and it doesn't energetically have the effect on us as human beings as they intended. There are unintended consequences for this word. I hope you receive this with love, compassion, understanding, and from the spirit of my desire for creating elevated higher consciousness and states of love on this planet, I invite you to take this step in your life. Stop advocating, promoting and sharing the message of being vulnerable or vulnerability. Instead, be open minded, be open hearted, kind and compassionate, and you will still experience all that life has to offer without having to be open to being hurt, attacked, or worse. You can still feel pain. You can still feel the full immersive experience of situations and relationships in your life, but you don't have to take it on from a place of being vulnerable or vulnerability. That's my desire. That's my invitation to you. If you like what you heard today, the greatest compliment you can give is to share this show with your friends and tell us in the comments what you're taking away. I hope and desire that this is of value to you and creates some shifts for you. Check in with yourself. See if the words feel good or if they don't feel good. Check in with your own life experiences. Has being vulnerable served you in the highest form or brought the best out in you or not?