Strong as F*ck: The Case for Embracing Vulnerability
If you’re a high achiever, you’ve probably heard the same tired BS about strength: Keep your emotions in check. Be tough. Never show weakness. Sound familiar? Yeah, well, spoiler alert—that’s all crap. True strength isn’t about locking your feelings in an emotional dungeon. It’s about being raw, real, and—brace yourself—vulnerable. Yeah, I said it. Vulnerable.
Cue the gasps.
This is the message high achievers like you desperately need to hear, especially when you’re busy collecting gold stars for your highlight reel. On the outside, you’re crushing it—stacking wins, hitting goals, dominating life. But deep down? You’re probably dragging around a suitcase full of unprocessed emotions you’d rather not unpack. You tell yourself, I can’t let anyone see this mess. They’ll think I’m weak. Well, guess what? That’s total BS, too. Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s your superpower, so stop treating it like a shameful secret.
Strength Isn’t What You Think
Society has been hawking this “stoic robot” version of strength for years, and guess what? It’s a scam. True strength isn’t about being some invincible action hero who never cracks under pressure. It’s about having the balls to show who you really are, even when it’s scary as hell. You want to be strong? Start owning your shit. Vulnerability isn’t about falling apart like a reality TV meltdown—it’s about being real enough to admit that sometimes, things aren’t perfect.
I see it all the time with my clients—these high-performing individuals who have built empires, but are scared shitless to admit when they’re struggling. They’ve bought the lie that vulnerability equals weakness. If that’s you, here’s your wake-up call: Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s owning the parts of yourself that you’ve been taught to hide, and having the guts to show them anyway. Vulnerability isn’t your kryptonite. It’s your power move.
My Own Vulnerability Moment
I’m no stranger to feeling like I have to keep it all together. For years, I bought into the same lie. I thought being successful meant never showing a crack in the armor. That admitting I was scared or uncertain would make me less of a leader, less respected. Then life decided to slap me upside the head: my business tanked, my relationships imploded, and I found myself standing in the wreckage, trying to keep it all together like some kind of fool.
You know what finally saved my ass? Getting real about my vulnerability. Dropping the act. I had to stop pretending everything was peachy and face the hard truth that I was burned out, scared, and desperately clinging to the illusion of control. Was it fun? Nope. Did it work? Hell yes. The moment I started owning my vulnerability, things changed. Not only did my relationships improve, but I felt more connected to myself. I stopped playing a role and started living in a way that was real.
What the Research Says
Don’t just take my word for it. Brené Brown, a leading researcher on vulnerability, says, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” Think about that. It’s not about whether things go your way. It’s about showing up, even when you don’t know how it’s going to turn out. That’s real strength.
High achievers like you? You’re all about control. You plan, you prepare, you strategize—because you believe control is the key to success. But life doesn’t always follow the script. Embracing vulnerability means accepting that sometimes, you don’t get to control the outcome. And guess what? That’s okay. In fact, that’s when the real magic happens.
How to Start Embracing Vulnerability (Without Completely Losing Your Shit)
So, how do you start being vulnerable without feeling like you’re tearing down everything you’ve built? Let me break it down for you:
Stop Fucking Around: Quit pretending you’re invincible. The next time you feel like you’re struggling, admit it—to yourself, to someone you trust, to your dog—whatever works. Start small. Vulnerability isn’t about making a scene; it’s about honesty.
Reflect On Your Shit: Every day, take five minutes to reflect on something that made you feel vulnerable. Write it down. How did it make you feel? What were you scared of? What would have happened if you leaned into that vulnerability instead of running from it?
Set Boundaries: Vulnerability doesn’t mean baring your soul to everyone you meet. Pick the people you trust, the ones who have earned the right to see your real self. Vulnerability with the right people is power; vulnerability with the wrong people can be dangerous. Know the difference
Transformation Through Vulnerability
I’ll be honest—getting real with vulnerability transformed my life. But not in some magical movie montage kind of way. It took time, effort, and a willingness to get uncomfortable. It was a process. Little by little, I started to let go of the idea that I had to be perfect, and I embraced the parts of myself that weren’t. You know what happened? I stopped giving a shit about what people thought. I became more present in my relationships, more real in my work, and more connected to my purpose.
Vulnerability didn’t make me weak. It made me fearless. I stopped worrying about failure, and stopped caring about whether people approved of me. That’s the transformation—when you embrace vulnerability, you stop giving a crap about the wrong things and start caring about the right ones.
So stop hiding. Drop the act. Own your vulnerability. Because when you do, you’ll realize strength doesn’t come from being unbreakable—it comes from letting the cracks show and standing tall anyway.
Let’s End This With Some No-Bullshit Self-Refection:
Here are some questions I want you to ask yourself:
Where in your life are you hiding behind a mask of strength?
What would happen if you let people see the real you—flaws, fears, and all?
Who’s earned the right to see your vulnerability, and who hasn’t?
How much energy are you wasting pretending to be something you’re not?
What’s one step you can take today to start embracing vulnerability?