If you feel and think you don't need the world and that you are tough, you are strong, you are invincible. You are independent and successful and are better off without anyone's help, then, you are invulnerable.
Reality is, you live in an unforgiving and ungrateful world. One day you can be on top, the next day you can find yourself at the bottom. The job you hold on dearly right now may vanish tomorrow. During your lifetime, you are forever going to tread on a piece of rope and may never know when you are going to fall.
It is these possible pitfalls in life that perhaps make you want to be strong. And in your desire to be strong, you build walls around you and are always on guard for people who are trying to penetrate your shields. You are afraid to be cheated or be hurt. You want your life to be your own. Though you love the people who surround you, you are just not ready to open up.
But the reality is ... you need other people just as much as they need you. "No man is an island" maybe a cliché but admit it - you can't be by yourself all the time. You need someone to open your door when your hands are full. You need a partner if you have children to take care of. You need your neighbor to look after your dog when you are on vacation.
You may not want to be vulnerable, but at times you have to be, whether you like it or not. Stop putting up that hardened look on your face. You can start by asking someone to help you carry your shopping bags to your car. There are people who are just too happy to help. And yes, there are people who can still be trusted.
In your home, don't act like you are the unshakable master of your household. Ask your children's help with a pile of laundry that needs to be sorted and fixed. If you are married, ask your partner's help with the chores. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Perhaps your partner is just waiting for you to ask for assistance. You may have given the impression from the beginning that you never wanted or needed help because you never asked for any.
It won't do you any harm if you expose your weaknesses to people once in a while. More people are more than happy to help out and want to feel needed. Asking help from a stranger who appears to be decent and kind is not difficult. Experiment on asking more favors from people you know. It won't hurt. Just do not abuse their kindness.
Of course being vulnerable does not mean exposing yourself to outright risks and dangers. Calculated trust is what it takes. Remember - be vulnerable only when really necessary.
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