Be Vulnerable

The definition of "vulnerable" is: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded.

I'm realizing time and time again how important it is to just be vulnerable in life, especially in learning and in love...I'll hold off on the latter for now.

In learning, it is so important to admit that you don't know, recognize what you don't know, and ask questions till you know. Don't stop till you get enough. Yes, the other person may think that you're stupid, but be vulnerable to that, because that's really the worst thing that can happen. In my short 20 years of life, I've found that most people respect you for your courage to ask questions, rather than looking down on you. What is the best thing that can happen by asking? You gain knowledge and by that you have opened a whole new world!

I'll be perfectly honest. In the beginning of this semester, I was so afraid of being labelled as "dumb" or "ignorant" in my history tutorials that I did not ask any questions or express my opinion. Whenever I did say something, I would obsessively go over what I said and torture myself with "I should have said this, I shouldn't have said that," etc...until I realized that I was only hurting myself. I was building my own obstacles to learning. I decided that it didn't matter what my classmates thought of me because they're not experts either. They may know more about things that I don't, but I sure know a lot about some things that they don't. In the face of experts, you have to remember that no matter how much you know, they're probably one step ahead of you anyway, and they know that, and they have also been in your shoes, so ask away! What I learned in those tutorials after I changed my attitude are priceless.

In your lecture, just put up your hand and ask if you don't get it. Chances are, there is at least one person who doesn't get it either.

With love, faith and hope,

SW