Vulnerability - The Ultimate Superpower.

Should I be honest about how I feel right away, or should I walk away and continue romanticizing a fantasy in my head for the next week?

These are questions I’ve been asking myself lately. Should I take the leap and act on my feelings, or should I let them linger, preserved in the safe, untouchable space of “what if”? Truthfully, I usually choose the latter. But deep down, I aspire to be the kind of person who chooses courage over hesitation—someone who acts and isn’t afraid of vulnerability.

Lessons from a 3 year old:

Today, while looking after my friend’s three-year-old daughter, I took her to a kid’s disco party. On the way home, she spotted a boy she had danced with earlier and, without a second thought, waved enthusiastically. The boy glanced in her direction but didn’t wave back or even smile. What struck me was how unfazed she was. She continued walking on, content and carefree, untouched by the boy’s lack of response.

Watching her, I felt amazed and inspired. How did she manage to move on so effortlessly? It made me realize something important: rejection is a part of life, whether we put ourselves out there intentionally or not. We don’t always get the response we want, but isn’t the real issue more about how we handle those emotions afterwards, rather than the rejection itself?

Why Does Rejection Feel Harder as Adults?

As children, we exist in safe bubbles—protected by caregivers, blissfully unaware of the complexities of the world. When rejection comes, we shrug it off because we know our safety net is still intact. But as we grow older, we trade that carefree ignorance for overthinking and self-doubt. Experiences of hurt and disappointment accumulate, and we build walls to protect ourselves. Over time, our fear of rejection morphs into a fear of embarrassment or failure, making vulnerability feel like an unbearable risk.

I know this firsthand. I’ve found myself making decisions based on anchoring bias, drawing conclusions from past experiences rather than taking each new moment as a clean slate. But life in life, no two events are ever going to be the same. To fully live, we need to stop letting past rejections dictate how we approach present opportunities.

The True Power of Vulnerability:

So, how do we embrace vulnerability and act on our desires? The key isn’t about eliminating fear. Instead, it’s about accepting that vulnerability doesn’t guarantee success but rather equips us to adapt to whatever outcome we face. And as a result, your greatest fear of being vulnerable becomes your ultimate superpower.

But as I think about it, I don't think it's vulnerability itself that holds us back- but rather our fear of what happens after we expose ourselves. We hesitate, imagining worst-case scenarios. But vulnerability, when reframed, is liberating. It allows us to strip away the weight of assumptions and act instinctively, without backup plans or overthinking. Yes, it’s scary. But it’s also refreshing—a way of breaking free from the confines of fear and stepping into the possibility of growth.

A friend once told me, “Don’t try to impress people. Just impress yourself.” That idea stayed with me. It’s not about trying to control how others react—it’s about honouring your courage so that at the end of the day we can look at reflection and be proud of who we see looking back at us.

Faced with Vulnerability - The Ultimate Superpower:

While travelling in Croatia this summer, I went out to a friend's birthday party and met this one guy. We began to exchange pleasantries and soon engaged in a conversation. While being interesting to talk to, he was tall, handsome and a doctor - cherry on top of it all. And though, it's now or never, quite literally as I was heading back home in a few days. For the first time in a while, I decided to embrace vulnerability and ask if he wanted to get a drink. I was nervous, and exposed, but tried to focus on the 'being brave' part.

To my dismay, he told me he was engaged and getting married next year. It was a bittersweet moment. Reality didn’t match the fantasy I had in my head, and yes, it hurt. But at least in that moment, I found a way to continue past that awkward moment of rejection we all try to avoid, only to realise the fear of rejection is greater than passing through it in real time. At the end of the day, I didn't walk away empty-handed. I felt empowered. I had faced my fear of rejection, and I let myself be vulnerable and in doing so, I impressed myself. That alone made the risk worth it, while also saving me days on without end of me entertaining a fantasy of him in my head.

Choosing Courage Over Fear:

At the end of the day, we all crave connection—it’s human nature. But fear of rejection often holds us back, tricking us into thinking vulnerability is too dangerous. The truth is, vulnerability isn’t the enemy. It’s how we grow. It teaches us that the outcome doesn’t matter as much as the act of showing up for ourselves.

Each time we take a leap of courage, we gain strength to navigate the complexities of life. Vulnerability is not about exposing ourselves for the sake of it—it’s about releasing our assumptions, opening ourselves up to new possibilities, and adapting to the outcomes with grace.

So, going forward, I’m choosing to live with courage and vulnerability. There’s a saying: “None of us are getting out of here alive.” With that in mind, I want to take every opportunity for growth and connection, even if it comes with a little pain. Vulnerability may feel like a risk, but in the end, it’s what sets us free from our own dismay. And the more we choose to adopt the practice of vulnerability into our everyday life the more we learn to live in the present moment and avoid wasting our own time with 'what ifs'.