27. Turning Vulnerability Into Connection: An Inspiring True Story

As Brené Brown once said, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity.”

But vulnerability may not always come easily – it relies on our ability to be honest with ourselves and share that honesty with others.

Without sharing our truth, we can’t form authentic connections.

My client, Jared, experienced a transformative communication journey where he realized just how true this is. Before working with me, he bounced from relationship to relationship. As a form of self-sabotage, he backed away from every meaningful relationship he had.

In working on his communication, he learned that coping mechanisms in his childhood played a role in his actions today. To be strong, he felt he needed to suppress his feelings - to the eventual detriment of his relationships.

Today I’m proud of the progress he’s made. By learning to be vulnerable and honest, he’s been able to nurture communication that has helped in all areas of his life, even helping double his sales quota at work.

You’ll see that his story is an inspiring example of what’s possible when you create an intention to enhance your communication.

Takeaways from this episode:

- Your friends may be reinforcing your self-sabotaging patterns in an effort to be supportive. Be aware that they may not be supporting your growth.

- There will always be new situations, new people and new opportunities requiring you to learn something new about communication and work on your listening.

- Challenge yourself to tackle a difficult conversation requiring vulnerability each day. Usually it will turn into connection, and that practice reinforces the power of vulnerability and makes it easier each time.

- The word “courage” comes from middle French, from coeur or heart. When you lead from the heart in communication, you're being vulnerable.

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LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:

Check out Episode 25: The 6-step process that will help you stay true to your New Year’s intentions:

https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcasts/language-alchemy-podcast/episodes/2147661663 

Download The Proven Roadmap to Sustainably Bring Forth Your New Year's Intentions:

https://www.languagealchemy.com/followthrough

For more resources about communication, go to:

https://www.languagealchemy.com/blogandvideo

To ask your communication questions, click here:

https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion

To join the mailing list, visit:

www.languagealchemy.com

Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI

Produced by The Podcast Space, LLC.