The Power of Vulnerability
So often in medicine—and particularly since the beginning of the pandemic—healthcare workers have been hailed as heroes, people who are always strong in the face of incredibly difficult circumstances.
But healthcare workers are not alright. We are exhausted, abused, and suffering from burnout. For the sake of all who work in healthcare, we must normalize conversations around these vulnerable experiences.
The willingness to be vulnerable is also a strength. We must tell the truth of what we are going through if we are to offer ourselves rest, softness, and renewal. Here are ten quotes to remind us of the transformative power of vulnerability:
- “The brokenhearted are the bravest among us. They dared to love.” – Brené Brown
- “Shame always shrivels when you share it out loud.” – Marie Forleo
- “The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility.” – Paulo Coelho
- “You can’t fully live your life without experiencing the joy, the beauty, and the fear, the sadness.” – Emma Xu
- “When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable.”– Madeleine L'Engle
- "To love is to be vulnerable." – C.S. Lewis
- “What happens when people open their hearts? They get better.” – Haruki Murakami
- “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brene Brown
- “When we feel safe enough to expose our shadows, that’s when we become free.” – Gabby Bernstein
- “To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.” – Criss Jami