A Little Secret About Vulnerability

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you might think I have no problems with posting what I do. That I might even make it look easy. I’m going to let you into a little secret.

I do, and it’s not.

It’s only recently that I haven’t felt shame in being vulnerable in what I write. There have been so many times where I am about to hit “publish” on a blog post and suddenly shame shows up like, “Hey buddy, remember me? Are you sure you want to be vulnerable today?

And in truth, that feeling has never really gone away.

Shame: The Loud Little Gremlin

But what I have learned over time is that shame is a loud little gremlin, but it’s not particularly smart. It has one job, and that is to protect the old version of me who thought silence was safer than truth, and it keeps trying to do that even when the danger is long gone.

Every time I hit “publish,” I’m not proving I’m fearless. I’m proving I’m willing. That I am willing to be seen. Willing to risk being misunderstood. And willing to say the quiet parts out loud so someone out there feels a little less alone.

And honestly? That willingness has carried me further than confidence ever has.

The Struggle Behind the Posts

So if you ever read something I write and think, “Wow, he’s got this vulnerability thing figured out,” trust me, I absolutely don’t. I have actually lost count of the number of times I have published something, walked away from my laptop, and wanted to run back to the keyboard and hit delete.

Choosing to Publish Anyway

But what I have decided to do is keep choosing to publish anyway. I let shame grumble in my ear, kick the chair, and make a fuss, but it doesn’t get to decide for me anymore. Moving forward isn’t about waiting for the fear to vanish; it’s about showing up even when it’s there.

Because as much as shame tries to warn me off, telling my truth keeps setting me free. Every single time. And there is a huge release in that.

The Power of Freedom

And that release? It’s powerful. It’s the kind of freedom that comes from choosing yourself over the voice that says, “You shouldn’t.” It’s choosing to be seen, to be honest, and to share the quiet, messy parts of life; that’s where the real courage lives.

You Are Definitely Not Alone

I guess what I am ultimately trying to say here is that, if you ever feel the weight of shame holding you back, whether it’s from speaking your truth, sharing your story, or simply showing up as yourself, you’re not alone.

Every step you take to be seen, even when it’s uncomfortable, chips away at that old, fearful voice. And with each step, you get a little more freedom, a little more courage, and a little closer to self-acceptance.

And that is all part and parcel of healing.

So write. Share your art. Speak your truth. Be unapologetically yourself, and tell that shame gremlin to take a hike.

Because every time you do, you take a step toward peace, and that’s something worth celebrating.

Read more about how I moved from shame to self acceptance, if you’re curious or maybe you need to hear it too.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash