Strength in Vulnerability: Body Image

Have you experienced increased closeness through vulnerability with a caring partner? If this is a new concept for you, what do you imagine connection through vulnerability looks like in intimate relationships?

Perhaps we feel insecure about our body in some way. This insecurity can hinder our ability to enjoy physical intimacy. Negative self-talk and distracting thoughts can pull us out of the present moment experience. Worrying about how our body looks may mean we are trying to control our environment rather than focusing on our experience with our partner. During a sexual experience we may be caught up in making sure our body is positioned in a certain way and that the lighting is low. In these moments we aren’t fully present with our partner.

If we’re self-critical and lack deep acceptance of our bodies, sharing our body could be very scary. To share our feelings about our bodies could then be especially difficult, as we may feel vulnerable in acknowledging our internal struggles. What are the benefits of finding the courage to talk with a partner about an area of vulnerability? Shared vulnerability with a partner we trust to be caring and accepting deepens emotional intimacy and may help reduce feelings of insecurity. 

We can begin cultivating our own strength to be vulnerable by practicing self-acceptance and self-care, as well as acknowledging our self-worth. We may still feel nervous to let our partner know where we are struggling, but when we have already held ourselves in our vulnerability with self-compassion, we have more capacity to open up to our partner.

In our upcoming salon Authentic Sexuality, we will be diving more deeply into the topics of vulnerability, body image, and emotional intimacy.