In this culture, the thing we fear the most is being vulnerable. If others know our secrets, our ‘weak spots’, then we will be conquered and overcome. So we must construct a ‘mask’ that, we believe, will conceal our vulnerabilities and hence insulate ourselves from pain. But our mask becomes a rigid face which we are increasingly unable to change – we become determined by the mask we have constructed and we lose our freedom.

How, then, do we regain our capacity for freedom? Simple. We become vulnerable.

Try this. Write down five things, whether they are desires or hopes, fears or shames, that we would not easily share with another person. And when you have written them down, say them out loud to yourself. Now ask yourself, what prevents me sharing these secrets with other people?

We tell stories and construct narratives around key events in our lives. We might say that an something happened to us that changed our life and often these events are part of our secret narrative. Less often, we will say that we chose an action that changed our life. Less often do we say that these are my vulnerabilities and that I can change the story I tell about these secrets. In my new narrative, I can be the actor and not the victim. In my new narrative, I can become free through sharing my vulnerabilities.

‘Freedom through Vulnerability’ is the subject of our next talk at Philosophy in the Pub on Tuesday 20th September 5.30-7.00pm at the Back Deck, Robina Tavern. $5