How Vulnerable Are You Willing To Be?

Can't we all relate to these two friends? The ones that are so different but exist in almost every group of friends?

Friend A is smart, loves learning and keeps studying.  Checks up on you, asks if you are ok, reaches out to spend some time with you. Supports you and is always the first to cheer you up.

Friend B is smart too. Goal driven, competitive with a very strong personality and character. Honest, challenging you to become better day by day and shifts your mindset to achieve your goals.

Who would you like to hang out with more, though?

They both have similar qualities but each one approaches you differently.  

The one seems to be more supportive whereas the other is tough, heartlessly speaks the truth and doesn’t seem to really care.

Their biggest difference however, is not that the one is weaker and the other stronger. They both support you in different ways, i.e. friend A is not afraid to be vulnerable whereas friend B dreads that thought.

Both their contributions in your life are valuable. However, it is not your job to try and fix their approach towards you.

If friend A wants to be expressive and show you how much they care about you… let them.

If friend B wants to be tough and guide you but not really invest in you, is it their choice too.

At some point they, themselves, will figure out that :

a) Being vulnerable can get you hurt but you would do so knowing that you cared wholeheartedly

b) Being tough can definitely keep away the people that want to harm you- at the same time however, it will push away the people that want to support, encourage and care about you.

Guarding yourself in order to keep people away will definitely work!  

Make sure however, you are keeping away the right people. Not the ones you truly care about but you are too afraid to admit!

©2019