Learning the Art of Vulnerability

From an early age, I learned to put up a facade of invincible strength, independence, aloofness and perfection. It was my way of coping with the challenges life brought on, without knowing any better. I was pro-actively "protecting" myself from being hurt in some way. Sound familiar? It does to many.

In my case, one of the ways this manifested was by never being comfortable with having more than 100 Facebook friends. Having my posts being seen by that number of people made me feel too exposed to the unknown and vulnerable to what other people would think.

Some years ago, I decided to cut that number by half and make my Facebook friend list private. I even went so far to block so many people, even those I did not know.

Then it occurred to me that I was living in fear, which is the opposite of love. This like any other "protection" mechanism was covering up a fear of being authentic and shining my light, of being vulnerable and seen. It was also preventing me from putting myself out there to fulfill my Soul's purpose and service role as a Wayshower and Guide.

Most significantly, these walls I had put up were blocking the flow of life, love and abundance and keeping me separate from some of the very things I did want in my life. Although my ego could had convinced me it was all for my protection, it was interfering with my growth and expansion as a Soul in human form.

While the ego is concerned with self-identity and self-image, the Soul is our true Self, which is beyond all identification and therefore without any limitations. As we awaken, we begin to transition from identifying with and listening to the voice of our ego (the lower mind/personality aspect) to connecting with our higher Self, which is our Soul.

I had been so comfortable being hidden and playing small, living a contracted life like a caterpillar in it's cocoon, comforted by the familiar, until like a butterfly, it just didn't remain an option to continue living this way.

In essence, there are no "others' - you are me and I am you. The rest is the illusion of separation. When we judge another, it's ourselves we judge and our hearts that close, our life experience that contracts. Who do you feel you need the approval of, aside from your own true Self, your beautiful Soul? To whom are you giving your power away, to decide how it's ok for you to express yourself?

If it's anyone outside yourself, then learning to accept and love yourself exactly as you are is key. When we put up defenses and walls of any kind, we close our hearts - which keeps us contracted and unconsciousness in some area of our lives.

This isn't a unique experience to just a few of us, but is part of the collective unconsciousness of humanity and something many of us wayshowers, lightworkers and guides experience at some point when we realise we have to step up and put ourselves out there, open up and share - for by doing so, we make it easier for others to do the same.

This way we serve humanity - opening up, sharing, loving and having the courage to transcend the familiar voice of the ego, letting go the limiting self-images we've become so habituated to identifying with (unconsciously and without question).

Unity consciousness is about letting go of separation - from ourselves, one another, the planet and all sentient and non-sentient beings. As within, so without.

All is One.

All is Love.

Thank You for reading.

(Artwork by Jean-Luc Bozzoli)