My Journey to Being Truly Seen

Last weekend, I had the incredible honor of officiating the wedding of my dear friends, a role I’ve never been asked to fulfill before, which made the experience all the more special. As I prepared for this moment, I wanted to set a meaningful intention for the space, and the word that came to mind was vulnerability.

Vulnerability has been a central theme in my own journey—learning to open up, to let myself be truly seen by others. It’s a process, and not an easy one. For so long, I wasn’t even aware of how closed off I had been, shielding myself out of fear of what others might think. Would they think I was weird? I’ve often wondered if my directness, my humor, and my background as an Austrian living abroad made me stand out in ways that felt uncomfortable.

Even back in Austria, I sometimes felt like an outsider, but moving to a new country amplified those feelings. At times, I felt like I didn’t quite belong anywhere—not fully Austrian, but not fully Canadian either. Like an alien, caught in between. That sense of not fitting in, of fearing others' judgment, undoubtedly influenced my relationships.

But over the past few years, I’ve gone through significant changes. My true breakthrough happened this year, although every experience leading up to it, especially the heartbreaking ones, played a vital role in my growth. This year, I finally reached a point where I allowed people into my world—showing them who I really am.

I always had a deep desire to be truly seen, but how can anyone see you if you don’t let them in?

One important lesson I’ve learned is that while it’s crucial to feel safe, the leap to open up has to come from within. I’ve felt deeply held and loved as I allowed myself to be seen. And as I’ve opened up, amazing things have started happening. I’ve attracted the right people into my life, and although it’s meant letting go of some who are no longer aligned with my journey, I’ve embraced this as part of the process.

Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a profound strength that requires immense courage. It’s also a beautiful expression of love. To give and receive love, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

We all have parts of ourselves we’d rather hide, our shadows we don’t want others to see. But the truth is, we all have them.

When we can be real—both with ourselves and with others—we begin to heal, and in that healing, we become whole.

#VulnerabilityIsStrength #SpeakYourTruth #EmbraceVulnerability #PersonalGrowthJourney

#AuthenticConnection #LetLoveIn #HealingThroughVulnerability #CourageToBeSeen

#OpenHeartedLiving #PowerOfVulnerability #SelfDiscovery #EmotionalGrowth #BeYourTrueSelf #StrengthInAuthenticity #TherapeuticCoaching #LifeCoaching #MentalHealth #Growth #Support #Change #Life