Feeling The Love With The Help of Vulnerability

I recently experienced something truly magical: my destination wedding. The love I felt, surrounded by family and friends, was overwhelming in the best way possible. It was more than I could have ever hoped for. This experience propelled me to what I call a "Level 6 view" of the world, a perspective I'm eager to share.

Historically, opening myself up to receive this kind of love has been a challenge. I've been working on myself, and the payoff has been extraordinary. This wedding week wasn't just a celebration of marriage; it was a testament to the power of connection and vulnerability.

What is a Level 6 View?

The core of a Level 6 view is synthesis. It's a perception where everyone's gifts and talents come together as a unified whole. This was palpable during the wedding week. Disparate groups of loved ones merged into one loving community. Watching these connections form, like:

• Friends finding new friends even at our advanced age (see this Seinfeld bit on the rarity of making new friends over the age of 30)

• Reuniting friends and family who may have met once or twice, remembering the shared experiences, and building new ones

• Reuniting friends who moved away providing an excuse to reconnect

• Seeing a 61-year-old friend dancing on a picnic table with a college student as if they were lifelong buddies

The whole experience was heartwarming and incredibly entertaining.

At this level, the core emotion is joy, and the action/result is wisdom. Judgment fades away, the concept of "separation" dissolves, and a sense of total connection emerges. It felt like being constantly "in the flow," where almost everything went right - even when I momentarily forgot to carry my bouquet down the aisle! Everything unfolded seamlessly.

From this perspective, "everybody wins" because we're all part of a larger picture. We certainly felt like we won. Level 6 is about experiencing the moment fully, without needing to overanalyze it. I soaked up every second of the wedding, letting the joy wash over us. My heart was overflowing. There’s a strong sense of interconnectedness at this level, where everyone is seen as a part of oneself, a feeling I’m still carrying with me days later.

The Power of Vulnerability

This experience highlighted a crucial building block: vulnerability. Opening yourself up to the love of family and friends requires being vulnerable. This can be difficult, especially if you've experienced hurt in the past. As Brené Brown implies, you can't experience the highs without exposing yourself to the lows. You must allow yourself to be vulnerable to those potential lows to truly embrace the highs.

My friend Donna of Platt Professional Counseling wisely says it this way, "You need to feel the feels." Historically, this has been a struggle for me. I identify as someone resilient, someone who works hard to overcome challenges, and sometimes tolerating more than I should. This can lead to suppressing feelings that would be beneficial in the long run. While this resilience might impress others because it looks as if nothing gets me down, it has its downsides. It might reduce stress in the short term, but it can also prevent me from extracting valuable life lessons from my experiences.

Letting go of this protective barrier has allowed me to elevate my worldview and experience immense joy—to join this "Level 6 view" of the world.

Key Takeaways:

• Opening yourself to love requires vulnerability. It's about letting down your guard and allowing yourself to be seen and accepted fully.

• Vulnerability can be challenging due to past hurts. But it's essential for deep connection and experiencing true joy.

• Embracing vulnerability allows for greater joy, wisdom, and deeper connections. It's about "feeling the feels" and allowing yourself to experience the full spectrum of human emotion.

Being vulnerable is hard, but the rewards are immeasurable. If you can embrace vulnerability, you can elevate your life experiences, gaining joy, wisdom, and profound connections with those around you. It's about living a Level 6 life, where connection and love reign supreme. Come join me in this great place of joy and wisdom and spread the connection even further!

If you find yourself wanting to find more joy and connection in your life, coaching may be for you. Schedule a free coaching discovery call to explore how coaching can help you unleash the power of vulnerability and utter joy.