Have you ever met someone who immediately made you let your guard down? You’re talking to a stranger, and all of a sudden you’re telling them your life story, revealing raw emotions, painting pictures of your hopes and dreams. Something about them tells you that it’s perfectly safe to be vulnerable with them, so you just do it.

And it feels amazing! Deep, meaningful connections are formed out of vulnerability. One of my close friends is the kind of person that brings vulnerability out in others, and it fascinates me to watch her meet new people. After observing her emotionally disarm a small army of unsuspecting individuals, I’m convinced I understand the secret: to invite vulnerability from another person, you have to first offer up vulnerability yourself. My friend’s secret is to start saying vulnerable things, and voila!, the other person responds with vulnerable things in return.

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