What does it mean to be vulnerable in a relationship?
If you look up the word vulnerability in the dictionary, the results don’t look all that promising. You’ll end up seeing expressions like, “capable of being wounded or hurt” or “Susceptible to attacks.”
We can all agree that nobody in their right mind wants to be hurt or feel weak, especially not in front of someone they love.
The good news is, being vulnerable in front of your partner isn’t a weakness at all — it’s actually something that will strengthen your romantic relationship.
To be vulnerable with a partner means showing them your true self, including your fears, dreams, and emotions. However, not everyone is comfortable showing vulnerability in relationships
Here’s how being vulnerable can leads to a healthy and fulfilling relationship below:
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Why it is important to show vulnerability in relationships
1. Boost Partner Intimacy
Intimacy is both a sexual and emotional bond you share with your partner, and you cannot have satisfying intimacy without vulnerability in the mix. Showing your vulnerable side to your spouse means giving yourself to them wholeheartedly.
2. Open up to true love
As cheesy as it might sound, it’s true! The walls you’ve built up in your heart were put there to protect you from getting hurt, but they are also preventing you from fully loving and committing to someone new.
3. Humanize Yourself
When we are in a relationship with someone, we want them to see the best in us. We want to seem absolutely perfect. Perfection is great when you’re filling out a job application, but not when you’re trying to connect with a romantic partner.
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How to show vulnerability in relationships
1. Get to the root of your discomfort
If you’re not crazy about opening up with your spouse or partner, it can be helpful to ask yourself why. If you love and trust your partner, why wouldn’t you want to take your relationship to the next level?
2. Ask for help
If you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to ask your partner to lend a hand/a listening ear/whatever you need at that moment.
3. Be open about your struggles
If you’re someone who doesn’t naturally share their feelings, be honest about it! Let your partner know that you struggle with vulnerability and reassure them that your feelings on the matter have nothing to do with who they are as a person.
