the beauty in being vulnerable

Posted: November 5, 2010 at 7:16 pm

I feel beautiful today. No, I don’t have a nice outfit on or my hair done up just so. In fact, I’m still hanging out in my workout clothes from this morning’s at-home full body circuit that left me sweaty. Don’t judge.

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Understandably, I feel more beautiful today than I did 5-6 years ago when I was at the peak of my binging issues. Not surprisingly, I feel more beautiful today than I did 2-3 years ago as I sorted through the mental muck and finally began feeling in control of my food and emotional struggles. And despite the occasional down day, I have felt more beautiful each and every day since beginning this blog.

WHY? Writing this blog forced me out of my comfort zone. It made me vulnerable. The act of putting myself out there so publicly has reinforced my sense of beauty more so than anything else. Every time I peel away another layer of myself I open up another opportunity for growth. I learn more about myself. I become more aware and more grounded in who I am. I see my true self staring me in the face and cannot help but to love her. To love me.

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Each step I take where I embrace vulnerability and expose myself gives me strength. Remember me and my pregnant belly in a bikini out there for the whole world to see? Talk about vulnerable! And strong. I know it took guts to post that. Yet I have never felt more beautiful in any other picture.

Just as I have never felt more loved than when I confessed to Peter my struggles with binging and cried many, many tears on his shoulder. Just as I have never felt more hopeful than when I finally turned to God and said “I can’t do it on my own. Help me love myself like you love me”. Just as I have never felt more powerful than declaring my hopes and dreams for my personal future publicly, despite the doubt and judgment some may share. Being vulnerable isn’t something to fear. It’s something to celebrate. It helps you more clearly see yourself…and YOU are something to celebrate too.

This post is part of the Self-Discovery Word by Word blogging series, started by Ashley last month. Click for more details on how to participate with your own post.

  • What ways do you make yourself vulnerable? How do they impact you? Feel free to link up posts of yours sharing a vulnerable, yet empowering, moment.
  • What moments and situations make you feel proud of who you are?

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24 Comments to “the beauty in being vulnerable”
  1. Oh I hate being vulnerable and try to avoid it at all costs. Eek. Certainly makes romantic relationships hard hehe!

  2. This is a beautiful post. I especially love the prayer you included: “…Help me love myself like you love me”. What a great reminder that God loves us despite our faults, despite our shortcomings.

    I feel most proud of who I am when I see the person my 2-year-old is becoming. 🙂

  3. Great thoughts in this post!

  4. Sarah says:

    Great quote 😉 I think it’s amazing that the more vulnerable you allow yourself to become the more you love yourself. It’s completely true (if not scary) because we are all worthy of love especially self love. Thank you for posting because I enjoy learning more about the inner Tina!!

  5. Camille says:

    When I do a good run I feel so proud of myself. Nothing in the world makes me feel stronger!

  6. You are amazing Tina.
    “It helps you more clearly see yourself…and YOU are something to celebrate too.”
    This is so true. A part of me was worried about whether or not I should put myself out there and post what I did earlier today, or any personal, more “serious” posts that I’ve done for that matter, just because I didn’t want people to turn away from reading. (Heres the original link:
    http://atasteofhealthwithbalance.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/finding-my-movo/ )
    But, I did it for myself and taking the quiet moments to write out what I’m feeling at the time really helps to heal.
    And your posts always come at the right moments. Its so refreshing to come here because I can relate to your past struggles all too well. In the end, its amazing what God can do for us no? Without him I don’t even want to know what would have happened to my soul. Have a great night girl

  7. Gorgeous you are! 🙂 (the baby bump is completely awesome too, definite plus!)

  8. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Soooo nice to meet another local! I love your philosophy.

    I never feel more proud than when I keep going long after I thought I could – whether it be in a race or in life. 🙂

  9. Danielle says:

    You are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I feel like a better person for having read it.

    • Tina says:

      Oh! I meant to tell you tonight when hanging out thanks for this comment. 🙂 It was a lot of fun and see you tomorrow hopefully.

  10. I let myself cry. Sometimes in front of myself or in front of others. I used to feel so vulnerable doing this, but I don’t believe in hiding emotions. If Steel Magnolias brings the tears, so be it.

    Beautiful post.

  11. kate says:

    oh man! great post and a great way to start off my morning. thank you for sharing woman. it is so helpful to put stuff like this on the blogs. i think when people read that other people have gone thru and struggled with the same things that they are, it makes it that much easier.

    i could write a novel but will spare you! i feel volunerable when i actually admit to being upset, scared, depressed (insert any emotion other than happy). the more i admit to it, the easier it is to deal with tho 🙂

  12. This was a wonderful post!

    I feel I make myself vulnerable by sharing openly my feelings and my struggles over the years with bipolar. I do this a lot on my blog and my purpose is that, while it makes me vulnerable and opens my personal stuff up, perhaps somehow, it will help others see that they are not alone.

    Perhaps, by far, my most vulnerable posts on my blog were those describing the past 6 years as I’ve worked to get stable with bipolar disorder. They were empowering to me because if I was able to throw that out to a bunch of strangers, then I certainly can be vulnerable with other areas and emotions that are not quite so intense.

    My most vulnerable post was about some meltdowns:
    http://julielostandfound.blogspot.com/2010/10/part-2-meltdowns.html

    I have decided I NEED to be as open and vulnerable in my blogging as I so choose. We are all adults and if one doesn’t care to read something of a more serious, personal nature, that is ok and we have the ability to skip by it.

    I am one reader who gleans so much from those serious, vulnerable posts and it is often the serious, heartfelt ones that resonate with me. I cannot be the only reader like that.

    Again, thanks so much for this!!

    • Tina says:

      Thanks for sharing your vulnerable side too. 🙂 And I agree. I really enjoy reading the open posts from other bloggers too. I also feel that being open about my own story can help at least someone out there. That matters.

  13. I think just loving in general is making yourself vulnerable. Great post, Tina. Thank you 🙂

  14. Kasey says:

    Great post! I love that quote “To be alive is to be vulnerable”.
    Blogging has definitely been empowering and made me vulnerable at the same time. Putting yourself out there for other people to judge can definitely be scary but in the end you do feel stronger by expressing yourself!

  15. This is a really beautiful post and thanks for taking part in the series again! I like how you frame vulnerability as something to truly celebrate. I agree. Our vulnerability is what makes life so precious and interesting.

  16. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dr. Ashley Solomon, Tina Reale. Tina Reale said: the beauty in being vulnerable: I feel beautiful today. No, I don’t have a nice outfit on or my hair done up jus… http://bit.ly/cCnl6E […]

  17. Thanks for participating in this project! I love how you concluded – by saying that vulnerability is something to celebrate. We never think of it that way, but I completely agree!

  18. This prayer “I can’t do it on my own. Help me love myself like you love me.” Is something we all need to say. That’s a great way to look at it. I have low self-esteem issues but they’re not as bad as they were. I’ve grown a lot in a year. Great prayer!

  19. […] Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun ~ The Beauty in Being Vulnerable […]

  20. Total guts lady – you rock 🙂

    And yes you’re SO RIGHT about blogging making you feel more beautiful. When asked about my confidence in my body I always say “want a lesson in self confidence, photograph yourself almost daily and post it on the web for everyone to see, you’ll start liking yourself before you know it.”

  21. […] Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun ~ The Beauty in Being Vulnerable […]

  22. […] Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun ~ The Beauty in Being Vulnerable […]

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