Vulnerability: The Reckoning, The Rumble, The Revolution

This paper is a personal exploration of vulnerability in the creative process – how to recognize it, articulate it, and make active decisions despite feeling vulnerable while engaging in the creative process. It is structured mirroring Brené Brown’s Rising Strong Process: The Reckoning, The Rumble, and The Revolution. The reckoning is a process of inquiry and discovery that propels me towards growth. It’s becoming mindful so I can recognize patterns and explore why I habitually act/think in particular ways. The rumble, to me, consists of the process anteceding the choice to grow and change after discovering new knowledge from the reckoning instead of ignoring facing these findings because they present fear, shame, and vulnerability. And the revolution is not only what I take away from the reckoning and rumble process but how it affects the way I interact with the world, how I am irrevocably changed as a result of the rising strong experience. My research established three things: First, that the ability to be vulnerable catalyzes growth and deeper connection. Second, that the creative process lends itself to living vulnerably. And third, people are often blinded by vulnerability, resulting in inactive decision making. The paper follows an investigation grounded in this research where I engage in the creative process to build a dance performance piece and journey for both others and myself. Topics such as shame, fear, vulnerability, engagement, active-decision making, and connection are explored. Ultimately, the reckoning illustrated to me that the hardest thing about recognizing my vulnerabilities is discovering my habitual patterns that hide them from me. The rumble taught me various lessons but ultimately showed me engaging with vulnerability is a process that includes a lot of time and challenges. And my revolution solidified my self-worth will only be destroyed if I choose not to live a vulnerable and capricious life.