Let the Light In

Vulnerability takes courage.

Trust me, I know. Growing up, I always felt simultaneously too much and not enough. According to societal standards, my body took up too much space to be deemed beautiful,  and in addition to my physical insecurities, my emotions & the emotions of others felt larger than life. At the same time, I believed I wasn’t bold enough, ambitious enough, loud enough to make my own voice heard.

I hid. I kept my thoughts to myself, afraid that if I opened up I would be judged. I preferred to observe, take it all in. I could listen to other people and lift them up; I was good at that. That felt comfortable, and came naturally to me. If I didn’t open up, I wouldn’t get hurt. That felt safe. Eventually, it wasn’t enough.

A childhood friend of mine passed away my sophomore year of college. This sparked a need to go to therapy to learn to cope, a catalyst for my vulnerability. Opening up to a therapist led to a lot of self-discovery; there was no hiding in that room.

After years of self-work in therapy and encouragement from family and friends, I can finally open up and be vulnerable. It was the combination of the empathy that has always come so naturally to me and this newfound vulnerability that allowed me to begin to embrace who I was, truly and deeply.

Anytime I felt like I was drowning in my own grief or my head was spinning with uncertainty, being vulnerable & sharing those feelings with someone else got me through it.  On my darkest days when the whole world felt heavy, being vulnerable took the tiniest bit of weight off my shoulders.

Being vulnerable is brave; it’s the moments of discomfort that allow us to grow. It’s that same vulnerability that allows us to help so many others. Open up and be vulnerable, even when it’s hard. You don’t have to carry that heavy darkness alone; let the light in.

Feeling inspired? You can follow along Danielle's mental health journey here and here.

Unsinkable Storytelling Author: Danielle Delgado