It unites us, it's one of the experiences we all share regardless of age, race, gender, etc. Yet we hide it, we bury it deep and make it a practice to suffer alone in isolation or at best we might share it with a family member. When asked "how are you?" we reply in an ever so automated response, "I'm great!" - like a programmed computer of sorts. Meanwhile with every insincere response, that pain deep inside us is flexing it's muscle and growing stronger.
Now don't get me wrong, in passing it might be terribly awkward to tell a stranger about your recent struggles. Or maybe it's not, maybe it's just what that person needs to hear and maybe it's what you need most. Maybe you should experiment with it....
But I'm not here to dictate social norms and I'm sure as hell not here to tell you what you should or shouldn't be doing. I'm just raising a question, that is:
Why do we wear masks!? Why do we go out and pretend to be perfect only to have that mirage of perfection be the very thing that stands between us and the thing we crave so badly - connection with others, other humans that are just as tragically flawed as us!
I've recently been experimenting with vulnerability in all facets of my life, business, personal, sports. I've been having the most profound experience, every time I lead with vulnerability and share about something that I'm suffering with the other person immediately does the same. It's as though vulnerability breeds vulnerability. And even more significantly the connection that is created between myself and the other person is profoundly deeper and that connection is strong.
Can suffering and vulnerability be the answer to what we're searching for? Could the simple act of sharing vulnerably with others be one of the more radical shifts we can create to help make this planet a better place to live?