Leading with Vulnerability for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

A core value of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is vulnerability.  This famous Ted Talk explores how a social scientist in her research discovered the importance of vulnerability to be able to connect with other people, while offering a glimpse into Dr. Brown’s personal struggle to apply this wonderful truth in her own life.  If you are planning to lead any of the Emotionally Healthy curriculum, it is very important that you lead with vulnerability.  

Below are listed some study questions to help you glean important points and integrate the learning into your own life.  The ** questions are the personal application questions.  (What does vulnerability look like in your life)

1. What destroys connection?
2. What is the one variable that separates people who really have a sense of worthiness (they have a strong sense of love and belonging) from the folks who struggle for it (folks who are always wondering if they're good enough)?
3. What do you absolutely have to do for connection? 
4. The people who felt worthy believed that  ________________ was necessary.  They had a willingness to say  ______________________ FIRST.  They are willing to do something when there are no guarantees.  They _________________ in a relationship that may or may not work out
5. Vulnerability is the core of ______________ & _____________ & our struggle for ___________________shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it's also the ________________ of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love.
6. What is a very common response to vulnerability?
7. **How do you numb vulnerability?
8. What is the problem with numbing vulnerability?
9. **What things make you feel vulnerable?
10. **_________________  is a way to discharge pain and discomfort. When is a recent time that you blamed someone?  What caused you to blame?  How did you feel before you blamed them?  How did you feel after? 
11. What are children hardwired for?  What does this mean?  According to the speaker what is the important job of parents?
12. What’s the most important thing to do when we do something wrong?
13. What is the other way instead of numbing vulnerability?
14. What happens when we believe that we are enough?
15. **Do you believe that you are enough?  Why or why not?
16. **What ideas in here are new for you?
17. **How do these ideas relate to your faith?