14/05/2026
For Mental Health Awareness Week, I’ve been revisiting some of Brené Brown’s early work on vulnerability. And one idea still really sticks with me:
Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s the courage to be seen when you can’t control an outcome.
So many of us were taught to avoid discomfort. To fix, perform, people-please, or stay guarded. But avoiding small moments of vulnerability like difficult conversations, asking for help, being honest about how we feel can often mean avoiding deeper connection too.
One thing Brené Brown says that I love is:
“When I see you do [thing], the story I tell myself is [story].”
It shifts us away from blame and toward honesty, accountability, and understanding.
16 years on from her TED Talk, her message still feels true: vulnerability is where connection, belonging, creativity, and joy begin.
