Domination or Vulnerability, which would you choose?

Some people see vulnerability as a sign of weakness. I see vulnerability as a tool for empowerment and blessing in disguise. For some, when they are vulnerable, their defenses go up, for me, I follow my heart.  To be vulnerable means you are open to attack or damage so by being vulnerable, it means that someone or something feels threatened by you. If you give this statement serious thought, you will realize that the attacker is not threatened by “what you did,” but rather, what you are “capable of doing.” Since most people do not enjoy being vulnerable and would do anything to avoid it, I think it is safe to say that attackers are unjustifiable in their reasons for wanting to attack in the first place. When you know that your heart is in the right place, and your intentions are for the good of mankind, it is very easy to choose the role of one who is vulnerable over the role of the attacker, even when the attacker has a full arsenal of soldiers and weapons ready to take you down.  

Most people associate being vulnerable with signs of being easily defeated, weak, or under qualified or educated. Unenlightened individuals are those who seek personal power and gains will try to defeat the vulnerable. This could include things like personal injuries, lies, spreading rumors, hurting people to rise the top, greedy tendencies, forcing thoughts and opinions upon others, or manipulation. Something as simple as “challenging” another person or competing with another person who doesn’t wish to play the game could also be considered an attack by these ruthless individuals. One thing is obvious, they try so hard to make it a point to others that they are the “winner,” or “master” that, to the enlightened individual, that simple fact is already a sure sign that they are they have no mastery because winners are the ones who believe in the power of their “goodwill” and positive intentions to carry them through the battle, even at the greatest of odds.   

 Where the unenlightened see vulnerability as a weakness, the enlightened see vulnerability as an opportunity. In my opinion, being vulnerable is a great thing because it represents a chance for growth and an opportunity to “arm yourself.” When I say “arm yourself,” I am referring to obtaining skills, knowledge, and resources so that you are satisfied and able to live your life to the fullest, being happy and on purpose, and having no regrets when you are faced with death. Those who view being vulnerable in a positive light is more resilient, able to easily overcome obstacles, and want to share their experiences with others so that they can contribute to humanity in positive ways.   

Many people associate the word “master” with people who are experts at something, or individuals who think of themselves as superior to others and the “all powerful” while considering themselves the ruler or king above all others. Any individual that chooses to think of themselves as a “master” while displaying power and force over others, only shows that they do not believe in their own strength which is why they force their power upon others in the first place. If a person calls or considers themselves a master, they are already admitting defeat in my eyes because “master” should not be a state of being but rather a work in progress. Mastery should not be used as a title or noun, .but rather; mastery should be used as a verb and a continuous effort that is never achieved.

The most empowered individuals are those ordinary and everyday individuals who do not claim to be a master or exhibit their power, through their positions or otherwise, over others. They will admit to vulnerability but never surrender to defeat because their willingness to evolve allows them to continue to seek information while keeping an open mind and connecting with others. Where unenlightened individuals seek to get their needs and wants met first and foremost, the enlightened will recognize that by fulfilling and contributing to the world’s wants and needs, it will contribute to their own personal fulfillment.  

 The enlightened individuals are not afraid to stand up for what is fair and just, whether it is alone or with the support of many, because they know, in their heart, that their intentions are based upon love and equality for all. They will choose to be vulnerable because they know that it is the materialistic items that they obtain in life that make them who they are, but rather what purpose or gift they offered to the world and the essence of their soul that makes them who they are. For them, the process of “attempting” to climb the mountain and achieve greatness is far more valuable than ever truly reaching the peak. Titles, statuses, recognition, or any benefits that could come from their hard work and efforts are worthless compared to the value that came from experiencing and reflecting upon their personal growth and the quality of life that comes from living in moral ways with love, compassion, and kindness for all. 

In my opinion, I never want to think of myself as “over” “above” “better” or “more qualified” than anyone  because there is so much that we could all learn from one another and ways in which we could share our experiences, knowledge, wisdom, gratitude, resources, and skills that would greatly enhance and enrich one another’s quality of life. These are the things that we all need to motivate and inspire us so that we can continue to evolve and grow on our journey and live a life that is full of joy, hope, happiness, and peace. It is this lifelong journey of “attempting” to master ourselves that will keep us connected to people and the universe around us and continue to feed our hunger for personal growth that will allow us to be open to change. By never considering ourselves a “master,” we will allow ourselves to be vulnerable and learn to openly embrace the unique expressions and information that others bring into our lives by being their own original and unique self. Not judging others and allowing them into our world, we will realize just how much we influence and affect one another and the benefits of working together and treating one another with patience, respect, compassion, and appreciation for the fact that others, just like us, are on the same journey towards their own personal fulfillment. 

Our personal journey of achievements and victories that are achieved through the love, support, and encouragement of others will contribute to our confidence and ability to continue on the path of fulfillment and discovery and motivate us to take on bigger responsibilities, gain more knowledge, and overcome even greater obstacles. . As you continue to reach greater heights of achievement and personal growth, you will also notice that your feelings of inner peace, joy, and happiness also arise, putting you even closer to becoming self-realized..  Eventually, this inner joy and peace will be so insurmountable that nothing in the world could overcome them, causing you to be filled with gratitude and an appreciation for, both, life and the world around you. The positive energy that you feel from living life with gratitude, passion and purpose will affect the world in tremendous ways by your attitude, words, and actions being mirrored by others around you. As others witness the courage you display when displaying your vulnerability, you will inspire them to have the courage to stand up against the things are destructive or not beneficial within our relationships, people, and our world. By opening up to change, you are letting go of things/thoughts that no longer serve your purpose and allowing God to bless you with everything you need to fully develop so that you can achieve that everlasting inner peace, joy, and harmony that each of us deserve. 

So many individuals think that “things” will make them happy; running around in circles, obtaining nice cars, big homes, vacations, nice clothes, etc,. forever searching for that one thing that will quench their desires and bring them happiness, but never truly feeling satisfied. They jump from one thing to the next, spending their days working hard and going the extra mile so that they can earn the money to buy the things that they want or that they think will make their family happy, but not appreciating the moments and experiences that are right in front of them because they are too focused on what their efforts are going to bring them. Unfortunately, sometimes people are faced with events that will not allow for that future to manifest, and people are forced deal with the regrets that come from not appreciating the things in life that truly matter, each and every precious moment with loved ones that God blesses us with. True happiness comes from knowing that you try to do the best you can, appreciate every moment, treat all human beings with kindness and respect, and try to live in enjoyable and moral ways, all which are completely free and able to be awakened inside of each of us at any time.    

It is my hunger, my thirst for growth that will keep me on the path to my destiny. It is this hunger that will keep me on my never ending journey to grow and evolve. I will never consider myself a “master,” nor will I allow another to determine my actions and behaviors. I will always choose vulnerability over mastery because if I were to claim to be a “master,” that would mean that I had reached the “top” of the mountain, and therefore, there would be nowhere to go but down! Personally, I like the climb.