Mental Strength How to See Vulnerability as a Strength, Not a Weakness By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Published on September 17, 2021 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Friday Fix: Episode 105 More About the Podcast Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Friday Fix: Episode 105 Apologizing, being the first to say, “I love you,” and telling someone when your feelings are hurt are just a few examples of vulnerability. Quite often, we’re discouraged from showing our vulnerabilities, however. We’re taught to “Never let them see you sweat,” and “Act like you don’t care.” Consequently, many people view vulnerability as a sign of weakness. After all, when you’re vulnerable you put yourself in a position where you could be hurt. So to prevent others from hurting you, you put up protective armor to stay safe. And while that protective armor may spare you from some emotional injuries, it will also prevent you from enjoying many good things in life. Our protective armor often comes in the form of rules we’ve established for ourselves. Quite often, though, we don’t even recognize our rules because we’ve grown so accustomed to living by them. However, asking yourself a few key questions can help you uncover those rules you’ve established in your life. I guarantee you have a few. In today’s Friday Fix, I share how to recognize your protective armor, why becoming more vulnerable is a strength, and steps you can take to practice being more vulnerable in a healthy way. More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Links and Resources Follow Amy Morin on Instagram Check out Amy’s books on mental strength Watch Amy’s TEDx Talk The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong Recovering From the Fear of Vulnerability What Is Shame? By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.