Vulnerability opens the door to empathy.
Deep down, we all know that we are imperfect. Our greatest fear is that this imperfection makes us unloveable. Whether we admit it or not, we are all waiting for or looking for, a person who will see, not see past, our flaws, failings, and shortcomings, and who will accept us and love us, not in spite of them, but along with them.
By understanding this about ourselves, by admitting it and embracing it as a deep, even sacred truth, we begin to look at others in a new way. We begin to see the truths that they are hiding or hiding from, that they are scared to reveal, and that they fear others will not understand or accept.
Once we see these vulnerabilities, if we can find in ourselves the strength and kindness to hold them fully and gently in our hearts, we gain the ability to truly love.
Love like this is powerful. It is uplifting. It changes lives and it changes the world.
Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.
Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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