Vulnerability: A Blessing or a Curse in a Mentally Strained Society?

We live in a world where a lot of people have mental health problems, but we don’t often think about why that is.

A big reason we’re not happy with ourselves is that we try to run away from our pain. Why do we think being vulnerable, or showing our feelings, is bad? Do we think showing emotions means we’re not strong and that it’ll make us hurt more? The thing is, when we try not to show our feelings, they still come out in other ways. This can be getting mad easily, wanting to be alone, or feeling really sad if we ignore our feelings for too long.

We all try to act strong even when we feel really bad inside. For example, we might pretend to be happy and hang out with friends when we really want to talk about our problems and cry.  We might get mad at someone else because we don’t want to admit we’re hurt inside.  Every day, we see people acting mean or being unhappy around us. And every day, we try to hide the parts of us that are sensitive. But that actually makes things worse.When people are going through tough times, the things we say are important. Instead of saying “Don’t worry,” it’s better to say “It’s okay to worry, cry, and talk about it. God and I are here for you.”

Instead of “Everything will be fine,” say “Things might change, and if you want to talk about it,

I’m here.”

Instead of “Have patience,” say “It’s okay to cry and feel upset. It’s really hard, but your patience is important.”
It’s okay to feel weak, to cry, to talk to someone you trust, to feel sad, and to take a break sometimes. Keeping yourself busy all the time won’t fix your hurt feelings.
Face your feelings, try to make them better, and let others do the same. Acting strong all the time just makes more problems in the world.
Being vulnerable is actually a good thing. It shows you’re human. And dealing with your feelings is the best way to start feeling better.

Written by: Maha Nadeem