Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jordan! I admit it: answering your question regarding how to become more vulnerable is much more difficult than merely stating that we should make ourselves more vulnerable. Indeed, I think it’s question that deserves its own detailed article.

For now, I’ll just say the following. It seems to me that fear — of rejection, of ridicule, of judgment — is one major factor that discourages people from baring their souls more often. I don’t think honesty and vulnerability per se cause people to experience anxiety; rather, I think it’s trepidation about how others might react to us if we were to speak from the heart that drives us to keep our innermost feelings hidden most of the time.

If we’re not accustomed to being fully transparent about how we interact with the world and if we happen to take a chance at being more vulnerable but we’re made to feel embarrassed and ashamed for doing so then we’re far less likely to experiment with vulnerability again in the future. Instead, we’re more likely to enter into ‘protection mode’ by closing ourselves off and refusing to ‘let others in’.

One part of the answer to your question, then, seems to be that each one of us needs to be more acutely aware of just how frightening it can be for some people to bare their souls, especially in today’s world. We have to commit to being kinder, less judgmental, more compassionate, and more open-minded precisely so that when somebody takes a risk by opening themselves up to others, they aren’t left regretting their decision as a result of the disdain or mockery they face.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these ideas.