“Shocking Revelations: How a Single Joke Exposed Dark Secrets Threatening Their Engagement!”
Being emotionally vulnerable might feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s vital to learn to express our needs
Image credits: RDNE Stock project / pexels (not the actual photo)
Meanwhile, Bored Panda asked Dr. Luster for his thoughts on how someone can get comfortable with being emotionally vulnerable around others. He stressed that this can be tough.
“Here again, we should be practicing adopting a general acceptance of who we are and that we are not perfect, nor are the people in front of us. That notion might also encourage us to hold empathy for both parties (ourselves and the other/s) involved.”
The counselor pointed out that rehearsal can be another good way to get us comfortable with expressing our emotions and needs. “Emotions arise from needs, thus the reason we are attempting to navigate relationships. Talking with ourselves as though we were sitting in front of the person can help us reflect on how we want to articulate ourselves when it comes to expressing our emotions, allowing room to practice and think about things in a variety of ways removes added fears and can build our internal locus of control,” he explained to us.
“Rehearsal may also help circumvent any kind of physiological hijack that might occur when we are presented with situations that arise spontaneously because we have practiced our approach and dialogue around this topic. It is simply a way to get more comfortable in our own bodies when discussing emotions.”
Dr. Luster advised that when we demonstrate our emotional vulnerability, we should use personal words. For example: “I feel this way.” On the flip side, we should strive to avoid defensive language, for instance, “You’re the reason I feel this way.” This way, we allow others to see our perspective without putting them on the defensive.
