Embracing Vulnerability
‘Vulnerability is the core, the heart, the centre of meaningful experiences.’ - Brene Brown
During the break I read the book ‘Daring Greatly - How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead’ (bestselling author, Brene Brown).
Vulnerability plays a crucial role in the learning process as it fosters growth, resilience, and deeper understanding. It is essential for personal development and cultivating meaningful connections with others, and allows us to live wholeheartedly, with courage, authenticity, and empathy.
Embracing vulnerability can positively impact on our boys in the following areas:
- connection: Vulnerability allows them to connect more deeply with others. When they are open about their fears, insecurities, and struggles, it creates an atmosphere of trust and authenticity, fostering stronger relationships.
- courage: Embracing vulnerability requires facing their fears of judgment or rejection and taking risks despite them. Through vulnerability, they develop resilience and the ability to persevere in the face of challenges.
- authenticity: Vulnerability enables them to show up as their true selves, without pretence or hiding behind masks. This authenticity not only enhances our relationships but also allows us to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.
- learning and growth: When they allow themselves to be vulnerable, they open up new experiences and opportunities for learning and growth. It's through acknowledging their vulnerabilities that they can identify areas for improvement and strive to become better versions of themselves.
- empathy and compassion: By being vulnerable and sharing their own struggles, they cultivate empathy and compassion for others. They become more attuned to the experiences of those around them and can offer support and understanding without judgment.
How can parents help?
According to Brene, parents shouldn’t wonder whether they are good or bad parents, but rather ask themselves whether they are engaged and paying attention. If so, they should plan to make lots of mistakes and bad parenting decisions. Imperfect parenting moments turn into gifts as our children watch us try to figure out what went wrong and how we can do better next time.
The mandate is not to be perfect and raise happy children, but rather to be comfortable being seen as vulnerable. Through observing us, our children will learn to be courageous and resilient, leading to further engagement and creativity.
If our children don’t see that we are comfortable being vulnerable, it can breed perfectionism or avoidance tendencies in them, possibly leading to shame and shame has the potential to be crippling to their learning and relationships.
A foundation of relationships, trust, respect, and unconditional love allows our boys to engage freely in learning, to be vulnerable and comfortable to make mistakes, and to develop their confidence, independence, and ultimately ownership of their ‘learning journey’.
Peter Grimes | Headmaster
References:
‘Daring Greatly - How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead’ - Brene Brown
