The price of admission for biological existence is vulnerability. Every microbe, plant or creature endures stress or harm or both to some degree. The weak force, otherwise known as radioactive decay, makes us inevitably undergo deterioration and transformation. For humans, vulnerability essentially means being susceptible to discomfort and loss, getting painfully manipulated and destroyed. When we feel vulnerable, we can become fearful and more cautious. Then we deal with certain things, people or situations carefully. We move slower, more gingerly. Vulnerability is likewise related to weakness, compelling us to seek help from various sources.

The fact of vulnerability allows organisms to engage each other because if nothing had an impact on anything else neither evolution nor destruction could occur. There would be no exchange of atoms and no cognition. Vulnerabilty, as much as anything, sets the tone for how we respond to our environment. Drawbacks affect perception and interpretation. Therefore, it’s not hard to understand that a metaphor can be viewed from either a confined or expanded perspective. Look at how some folks in the American South still cling to revering the Confederate flag for cultural legacy. They disregard the significance of negative connotations, which illustrates how metaphorical implications, both conscious and unconscious, influence the way we face vulnerability, what methods of protection and escape are chosen when dominance comes into play.

We commonly feel vulnerable if we’re slow, weak, stupid, awkward, uncoordinated, unattractive, angry, forgetful, tired, lonely, uninteresting, selfish, complaining, lazy, unmotivated, out of place, etc.

Inevitable and incessant vulnerabilities also include:  too much of anything, blind spots, the illusion of (wish fulfilment), the seduction of (status), the pleasure of (gratification), the allure of (ignorance), air, youth and old age,  sickness and injury and last but not least foul smelling material emerging from our metabolism.

If we over identify with waking awareness, and all its tribulations, the more debilitating vulnerability may seem. The ultimate vulnerabilty is rejection by the body, pointing to the fact that we’re most vulnerable to the unconscious since it can support, as well as undermine, well being. Might it be possibile to utilize vulnerability and faciliate a deeper bond with the unconscious along with the accompanying rewards? What happens when a person no longer shuns vulnerability? 

One potential result is increased sensitivity. When vulnerability is interpreted as an invitation to take greater care with something, then we can begin consolidating courage, stamina, resilience and dedication. Creatively scrutinizing vulnerability helps us listen to unconscious guidance, generating a meaningful hue to the angst of reality. Then vulnerability becomes a window to metaphorical insight. On the other hand, entrenched vulnerability often ignores the unconscious for the sake of self-pity.

Vulnerability can be a signal for commencing communincating with the unconscious, cultivating a connection as much as possible. Think of a fragile infant and how the unconscious crucially keeps it alive. The imperative bond determines health and psychological balance. That’s why those who intentionally damage themselves without purpose are tragically out of touch with the unconscious.

What is a practical habit for inviting a partnership with the unconscious? One method is simply mixing things up, which can diminish inadequacy because productive juxtaposition arouses feeling contributive. This means putting together contrasts to generate novel combinations or aligning different elements and ideas in various circumstances. Rearranging a metaphor by examining it from multiple angles, rather than fixating on just one or two facets, produces inventiveness. Plus, when we remember that many meanings can exist at the same time, a bigger picture is revealed and vulnerability is seen in a broader context. Understanding an expanded context doesn’t necessarily make discomfort go away but it generates room for rejuvenation. Vulnerability with committed metaphor recognition leads to epiphanies, which may mitigate the disturbing dread of feeling helpless  and not knowing what to do. 

A few potential benefits of vulnerability include: heightened sensitivity, spurred adaptation, productive introspection

Ironically, to increase strength, we need to let ourselves feel vulnerable, if only for short periods. For example. when a person does resistance training, muscles get fatigued and sore and thus are less capable. However, after rest and nutrition, the tissue is repaired even stronger. Therefore, experiencing vulnerability can be an essential part of a developmental process even though too much vulnerability overwhelms. 

Vulnerability can spur us to pay attention and hone association skills. An empowering way to use vulnerability is to explore metaphorical relationships. Proactive observation enlists unconscious collaboration. Why? Because the unconscious lives and breathes metaphors. Consequently, getting more attuned to innovative coupling puts us in accord with the depths of our psyche, enabling us to bring forth treasures. What does pairing contrasts entail? Basically, it places disparate or polarized things side-by-side and to see what emerges from the proximity or blending. Ultimately, receiving wisdom from the unconscious provides an antidote to vulnerability. However, we still have to put wisdom into practice.