How to Overcome Doubt and Fear by Flying on the Wings of Vulnerability

Submitted by Open on Fri, 06/08/2012 - 06:43

A key challenge that holds people back in the Simulation is the comfortability and convenience it provides; where so many of the choices are pre-programmed. To break free, we must 'fly' on the wings of vulnerability, by spending more time free-wheeling and breaking the patterns. This will likely bring up fear of making mistakes, and doubt in one's ability. That's okay. Here's how we can turn vulnerability into a powerfully liberating energy.

(updated 10th July, 2025)

Staring Wide-eyed into the Jaws of Fear

During my existence, I've constantly challenged doubt and disbelief. It seems my soul is naturally configured that way - I believe all souls can find that direct confrontation with 3D life and the path. Why is it so important?

Doubt, disbelief and fear are what truly limit people - or else comfortable attachment of safety in the Planetary Simulation. And so for me at least, there's been a constant inquiry into it, breaking the bounds and subtle ties that restrain. If, for example, a choice has presented itself that stimulated some sense of anxiety, my soul has always seemed to steer me directly into the jaws of it; not because I didn't have the sense of fear initially - exactly because I WAS reacting internally in some way - being constrained by it, which my soul naturally yearned to work through.

I realised early on, it is only fear that constrains and limits us: Fear of not being good enough; fear of not having the right solution; fear that we'll make mistakes and won't get the 'right outcome'. So if I felt the sense of fear, instead of turning away, I'd look it in the eyes, and go right into the heart of it. I do believe, that's what the soul is really asking of us.

And earlier in my existence, before I'd overcome all sense of fear, it was similar with doubt. Even though I've always known, intrinsically in my heart, that a benevolent presence was always there, loving us unconditionally and leading us to ever greater freedom and expansion, I still wasn't completely trusting all the time. It seemed as if doubt and belief were a double-sided coin, sometimes landing in my favour, sometimes not.

Self-Doubt versus Self-Belief

I would say to gain trust happens by developing Self-Belief. How do you do that?

We have to recognise the critical difference in believing in Self, as opposed to believing that we can manifest the right outcome - whatever we think that might be. Since the Universe is creating from the free-flowing torus, how can we possibly be sure of a particular outcome? You could, if you were bringing all your focus to bear and intentioning it. In other words, you could, possibly, create that timeline bubble for some circumstance. However, this would only be temporary, and like castles in sand being washed away by the incoming tide, these constructs will always break down. Better to be the tide itself, flowing and ebbing, creating and unwinding.

If we let go of the need for the outcome, then, perhaps unexpectedly, we are brought to the precipice of Self-Belief. How so?

You start to realise that the real 'game' of the Universe is manifesting the Self in you. Every single step in the free-flowing torus is designed to achieve. It takes vulnerability to surrender into it, but now you start to gain the feeling-sense of the True Self within. Now you're developing belief in Self. And, after some time, you realise that whatever situations you face, somehow, you'll always make it through in some way. Now Self-Belief builds.

Accelerate your shift, with leading-edge insights from the frontline of the Shift...

Expectation: the killer of all true experience

It wasn't until I fully remembered the importance of vulnerability (especially in this often limiting Simulation) that I truly began to trust, at the deepest level, when doubt finally dissolved and the penny fully dropped.

Just as with many awakened souls, as we touch the beauty and infinite benevolence of Unity Consciousness, we just know that mountains can be moved to unveil truth. Nothing is too great or too small that can't be solved by tuning into this almighty power - it's an intrinsic knowing at the core of our being:

No matter whatever challenges you face, no matter the difficulty or even pushback in society, the truth will always find a way through.

In a word, the key issue, the key problem is 'expectation'. Expectation is the killer of all true experience. When you feel the infinite flow of benevolent presence, there often comes with it a neediness or desire to shape it in some way. And, when you find you can't shape it, the steadily growing bubble of belief suddenly bursts wide open again. For me, I recall the bubble kept building and bursting until a realisation dawned...

"True empowerment is not about intentionally manifesting confidence and building supreme belief that things will go your way. In fact it's the very opposite. It's the absolute acceptance of NOT KNOWING how things will work out which finally unlocks the door of doubt and disbelief."

Breakthrough the Glass Ceiling

You're truly 'Walking the Path' when you don't know what's coming next. When you don't know how you're going to perform. When you don't know if you'll find the right words. When you don't know if that pay cheque will come or if there'll be dinner on the table tonight. The truth is, we can't know for certain because we don't have full control. For a while, it may appear so, but at the highest level, we created the conditions of uncertainty.

In a Universe that is continually changing and reshaping, how can the outcome always be guaranteed? Finally, I realised something deeply profound: there's a subtle 'glass ceiling' over the crown chakra that holds many people in the limitation - the Simulation here. To discover it, and break through, you've got to be prepared to go out on a limb - not just to put yourself in the unknown, not just to be free-wheeling, but in the intense crucible of truth; in some place that pushes your buttons, and triggers you in some kind of reactivity. That's where you'll discover the glass ceiling. And it's complete vulnerability to that flow of truth through it, which helps you break this final boundary.

Here's a sharing from the new Openhand Book "Avalonia", due out on August 9th...

I recall once, readying to give a seminar to a hundred people (or so) in Glastonbury Town Hall. The only preparation I do for these things is perhaps an intro video to set the tone, and a few slides with topics of exploration. I trust that everything else will arise from the stillness. And so, as the video was drawing to a close, I was waiting patiently for the first line of intro to emerge from the inner darkness. Nothing came. Still relaxed, I stood up. Still nothing. I gazed at the audience - still nothing. Now, I have to admit, I was beginning to tighten in the legs a degree. You could positively feel the air of expectation building amongst the audience. How incredible to feel that field of consciousness closing in around you - demanding of you, expecting of you. This was it then, the real purpose of the moment: expectation.

I stood in the centre of that, feeling it closing down around me, like darkened storm clouds. Still the silence continued. In all, it was probably only a few seconds. But in those intense moments of the field collapsing into the Void, time stops. It feels like an eternity.

This is exactly what courageous souls must allow themselves to encounter - time and again - if you're to really peel back the ego into full Absolution. In the end, this pregnant pause started to feel quite ridiculous - humorous even. It made me feel like cracking a joke. The Pope happened to be visiting the UK at the time, with a massive entourage. And so, like a welcome spring in the desert, a witticism readily sprang forth. The storm clouds in the room retreated in an instant, as the crowd broke its unsteady silence with ripples of raucous laughter. "Thank God," you could hear their relieved consciousness saying, "we don't have to sit in that uncomfortable silence a moment longer!" The presentation unfolded from that moment like a smooth, flowing dream, on the breeze of great liberation.

I knew back then, the glass ceiling in the crown had broken. That's why now, I'm so encouraging of these critical breakthroughs by being prepared to confront uncertainty in these especially challenging situations - to fly on the wings of vulnerability.

The truth will set you free

And do you know what? The truth will always set you free!

When you can be absolutely vulnerable to life so that you're not sure what happens next, when you step off that cliff edge with absolute acceptance of the outcome, whatever it is, that's when you truly learn how to fly. It's not about knowing what's about to happen. It's not about always having the answer or always getting it right. Neither is it about always being in one's comfort zone. Far from it: it's having the courage just to be who you are at whatever apparent personal cost.

And here's the beauty of it: you don't have to be an accomplished person, a confident person, an empowered person, an obviously talented person. All you have to be is You, walking boldly into the jaws of life, all the while allowing your truth to flow outwards from within; allowing your authentic expression to be good enough, whatever that may be.

"Come to the edge" he said,
"We can't, we are afraid", they said.
"Come to the edge" "We can't, we will fall",
"Come to the edge", and they came, and he pushed them, and they flew.
Guillaume Appollinaire


The time has arrived in The Shift where everything is terraforming around us. And the only way to truly make it successfully through, and to thrive, is by stretching out the wings of the soul, and flying on the winds of vulnerability.

Let's go!

Did You Resonate?
If you feel to develop your consciousness so as to be able to better master these highly alchemical energies, then explore the groundbreaking work of Openhand:

Bright blessings
<<< Open 💎

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Hi Open, been zoned out this am and noticed it as i started reading this so brought myself into more focus and the chills really started to activate in my head reading all this! I really resonate with it all. Yesterday i wanted to post about my experiences but ego fear of being wrong stopped me. I still get so emotionally wounded when I get it wrong, and deeply yearn to overcome it. I want to be okay with not getting it yet and making a fool out of myself which I'm still so attached to. It just still hurts very much and I know it was something passed down to me from my father, poor fella. Who knows what he suffered.

In regards to yesterdays post I have been having all the symptoms you mentioned, pressure in the head, tinnitus, can't sleep though exhausted, feeling at times I'm going mental, and this feeling like i need to 'bust out, break free', like a race gorse champing at the bit. But I dont feel like I'm anywhere near the consciousness yet to experience kundalini. Last year maybe but not this year, feels like i've back-stepped. Ive had jolts of energy from the base before but that was a couple years ago. I do feel like awareness peeks out occasionally but gets quickly smothered by I'm assuming entities or intervention. I just go into this dull, foggy haze of barely conscious. Admittedly what I eat has a huge impact on this too and I guess they take full advantage. When my belly struggles, it really takes so much energy out of me. That ties in to the previous post on cravings which I'm staying conscious of.

What really affected me was reading about the expectation of outcomes, and realizing how freeing it would be to accept that whatever does happen, so long as i'm flowing authentically, that whatever happens will be the exact right thing to happen. I'm beginning to embrace that because i'm seeing it in retrospect in my own journey. And seeing how despite the challenges which I rail against, I see how truly incredibly blessed i am and that those challenges really truly are my soul looking to find liberation. Becoming so grateful because i'm starting to see where i can go being free of all these hangups. Exciting stuff!

And I just love your sense to always turn right into the discomfort. Ive always been the runner and avoider, so having the courage to embrace the opposite would be exhilarating! At this point though I feel i still need to work on the foundation because i still get caught in the same old loops of unconscious reactivity. But I wonder if beating my head against the wall isnt the best way to break through it? Keep repeating the same unconscious behaviours, which I'm getting much quicker at seeing albeit still after the fact, until I choose different. Until I finally can stay with it. The foundation i want to build is the connection to the flow so I dont go unconscious and instead stay with the uncomfortable moment (like Tilly and the fisherman and Ella and the woman) and let it resolve itself out through me in the highest way, as you say. Thats where I need courage, to not run away or bite or people-please as i usually do. I saw a video where the fella said the reason many of us cant change is because of a disregulated nervous system and that makes sense. The reason I go unconscious, otherwise known as dissociative disorder in MH circles, is because thats how i learned to cope with situations that were too overwhelming for me to bear at the time. Would be very appreciative of your thoughts on overcoming this.

'The truth will set you free' words are so important and empowering because it is a place i'm beginning to grow with and i am choosing to accdept myself despite all my imperfections. Perfectly imperfect and being so very okay with that. Speaking of empowering, I 'rode the rails' yesterday, which is for me right now to take scenic bus rides, and I kept seeing vans with 'M Power' on them. To stay empowered despite whatever gets thrown at me. To be open and vulnerable and still empowered. That's a flight I want to make. Am I ready to be pushed?

As an aside, it was such a high energy day yesterday, did anyone else notice? I saw these incredible clouds, with vibrant violets, blues and greens, and they had this texture I can't quite describe expect to say soft, but flat. I wondered if it was star beings so i gave them thanks. Then i kept seeing spirals everywhere, a bush spiraling down and a bunch of spiral clouds, and then later this huge upwards cloud spiral that looked very similar to your representation of the torus. Lots of angel feathers too. Such a wonderful journey.

Much thanks and love, Barb

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Wow, it's 12 years since we made this Openhand video about being vulnerable and walking the spiritual path. Seems like aeons ago!

After which, I finally stepped out and became, "Open". How might it inspire your path?...

(Plus, do read the article above about 'Flying on the Wings of Vulnerability' (scroll up)

Bright blessings
<<< Open 💎

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It's crystal clear that doubt and fear get in the way of our spiritual emancipation. Fear of all manner of things, especially and including fear of the unknown. How to overcome it?
The problem with any experience like this, and probably the common denominator in all situations, is more the expectancy of what could happen and what our feelings will be in response. Again it's this fear of the unknown. So what if we get purposefully intimate with the feeling of fear? What if we completely embrace it the moment it arises?
I maintain that actually it's not the issue itself that's the problem, but the distance we try to build from it. This distance creates the unknown and the expectancy of what could happen. This in turn pertuates the fear.
But when we delve right in, when we turn towards it when it arises and then 'close the distance with it', suddenly we're looking into it. We're intimate with it. The shock and the expectation dissolve. You're right there in it. Then suddenly the bubble can burst. The fear subsides. You've exploded the myth, and what's more, that particular fear can no longer hold you in life.
It reminds me of this great scene from the TV series Kung Fu...

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What's the difference between true empowerment and confidence? It's all in the wording.

I find that often when people speak of building 'confidence' in the spiritual mainstream, it's about putting something on. Like using a daily mantra to convince yourself of something you're supposed to believe in. But this does nothing to expose and unravel subconscious doubt. It only plasters another layer of identity on top. That identity will never be who your truly are, and will at some point, inevitably break down.

Instead, the Openhand Approach, is to allow the insecurities to bubble to the surface. But rather than surpressing, denying, pushing away or allowing self-judgment to block access to the true depth of it, rather it is to get right into the expression of it. How has this doubt arisen? Where did it come from? Probably either past life karma, or conditioning and programming by parents, teachers and society.

Let's be clear, there can be nothing at all wrong with the quintessence of you. How can I say this? Because you are totally unique. There is nothing in the universe exactly like you. Hence, in your deepest self, you are utterly priceless. And since the Universe is all about being, then can be absolutely nothing wrong in you being you. The key is to surrender into the vulnerability of this and trust that this essence can survive and prosper in this often harsh world. It most definitely can! If you just give it a chance and let authentic beingness arise and create your expressions, then you'll start to find each step emerges from that. Somehow it all works out. But you do have to test this. And you definitely have to give up expectation of where you think it 'should go'. The question is: do you have enough energy and resources to complete this immediate step? If so, step into it with your authentic energy.

You'll find trust and true confidence (something that naturally arises rather than being put on) build because you notice each moment leads to another, somehow you have enough, somehow it all works out for you. Each step builds on the previous one. Progressively natural confidence and energy build. Divine manifestation happens more readily. You find yourself naturally supported by the flow.

So I find the key to this true confidence building is to surrender into the total vulnerability of the moment. To be yourself, come what may!

In loving support

Open HeartPraying Emoji

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I read this the other day and it sent chills down my spine:

“Birds make great sky-circles of their freedom.
How do they learn it?
They fall and falling,
they're given wings.”
- Rumi

Thank you for the reminder Open!!

Much love

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This, this article, this concept, this vulnerability. This is what I have been asking myself about lately.

I didn't think I was very vulnerable at all. I thought I was to guarded, to closed off, to protective of my own self and others that I did not think it was possible for me to be open enough to be vulnerable. And then....I read this and it was like a torrent of memories of myself and how I am for others that made me see how truly vulnerable I really really am. I am the one that will stand by anyone in a crises, that will speak up for the "underdog." I am the one that will risk everything to just stand and say - This is not right, this is not kind, this that one does to another is not ok. I am the one that will walk ahead of others to forge a path rarely trodden before so that I may show anyone willing to see that it's ok to just at the very least be yourself in the choices one has made. I am the silly one that isn't afraid to jump through muddy puddles with children, that will in my own way show others around that just having ridiculous amounts of fun is ok.

I am still the one that inside is deeply crying, but will face hell itself in whatever form it wants to show. Just because I can, because in any given moment if I don't or cant do it, then who else will.

I am not perfect, but maybe, just maybe I am vulnerable

Thank you so much for this article!

Wyndè

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Dear Open,

Thank you so very much, this was as always divinely guided to me as I was seeking truth whilst standing at that very precipice right now. The energies are indeed heavy and draining and we are in a chaotic, tumultous time of change and I can feel the shift is upon us. In these very very trying times, finding ones inner stillness amidst the hurricane is the key to ones survival. I say survival as I feel I have been torn to shreds in the last few months. I didn't realise how painful the mirror would be. And my fears were great, so great I didn't even know they existed in this way. I have realised that evolving and growing and lesson-learning is very bittersweet. The shedding of the illusion and the layers that blinds us from our Soul and Spirit has left me gasping for dear life. My only choice was to step inside my pain and soften into it (told to me by a very wise man :) )

A really beautiful affirmation - it has filled up my soul indeed!

Thank you, with love

Nivasha

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I so enjoy reading your experience of vulnerability speaking in front of the crowd.

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This reminder couldn't have come at a better time..as always..thank you Open....:)

Márk

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Well said Open!
I felt that.
I once 'thought' vulnerability to be weakness.
The experience was not. I had to reach a point where I could sacrifice anything in order to reconnect within, eventually myself would be the wager.
I remember what that felt like, it was soft, gentle, kind, accepting. It rode from a low position so there was no distance to fall and what i felt behind me was an endless flow of support.
Vulnerability gave me freedom to experience great power.

I have similiar views on expectations too.
The path to me is one which blows me away. It leaves me in tears of amazement, saying to myself "OMG! Did u see that?! I never knew! Wow".
Expect nothing and experience anything. How exciting?
Keep that cup empty I say.

The smart person says "I know this".
The wise person says "I know nothing".

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<3
Living plenty of doubt and fear as of now, this article is a blessing to once again give me a push in the right direction.

Catherine your sharing can be used as a very powerful analogy to so many experiences in life, Thank you :)

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I just love this article.... It's touching on everything I am feeling and working with right now.... The doubt, sitting in the unknown and staying open in that space, being ok with not knowing where things are going and releasing any expectation from the moment. Just as I feel A sense of openness and acceptance with the moment, I feel invited to go deeper with this sense, to carry it into the places I feel twinges of doubt and to expand and unwind it. I feel all these things working within me at this time... Thank you for posting this... It feels like grand support. With love and gratitude, Jen

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I scheduled a treatment session this morning with my chiropractor/shamanic healer. I explained to him that I've been experiencing painful spasms in my left upper back when I reach for things such as food items in the fridge. Last summer he showed me a technique about reaching from the centre of my body to maximize the body's natural energy flow, but I just didn't get the deeper meaning behind it. So I haven't been diligent about using it. Today we explored my emotions behind the physical act of reaching out. Mostly, I have continued to reach from the left and right sides of my body with closed hands. Fearful that I won't get what I "need." Attaching to outcomes. My chiropractor, once again, reminded me of the technique to first place my open hands over my heart in the centre of my chest before I reach from there. Centred. Open and vulnerable to giving and receiving what wants to flow. Open mind. Open heart. Open hand. I got the deeper meaning this time.

I appreciate this wonderful article about absolute vulnerability. Thank you, Open.

xxx Catherine

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So often when I read all the sharings reflection occurs. Sent me to my writings to search for this one. I can hardly express how grand it is to experience all of you after exploring solitarily for so so long. Here goes..

Restrained within my own constraints
Sensing the boundary there to define
Leashing the mind inhibits, comfortable I succeed to exist
Is this the life I would consciously choose to enlist
Driving the physical being to pain, electrifying pulse stimulates the soul
Able to soar without a sense of reason
Invigorating life to a heightened awareness
Intensifying the extra sensory perception, elevating to the most extreme degree
Silently awakened
Paralyzed, yet exuberantly energy rages
Whom, what, where is it I seek?
Revealed so vulnerable to myself
Torn, yet I remain the observer
How long will this tumultuous process torture me even though it's of my own doing
Controlling the raging energy that channels through
Primitive instincts alter perception, weaving through taking root
Flowing into the never ending
I am restrained of my own constraint

That's a writing from a couple years back.It's all so magnificently grand even the years of perceived pain gave stimulated enlightened.. I wouldn't take back one second Glorious day and I am so grateful for all of this profound honesty.

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Well said Mike *OK* I especially liked this...
    "The wings of vulnerability are made with very delicate feathers yet they can weather storms beyond imagination."
How true Open :-)

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Hi Folks,
Anyone knows something about the Chatars in France ?? Im going,(again to the Castle of Montségur) in Mary Magdalene-country.....;) There is a vortex there...
Anyone has a info, of any kind, about that place....I´m want a prayer, that belongs to the Chatars....where can I find sutch ?? Give me a link, video, inform... Thanks... Namasté Filippa

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Hi Yulia, You ask a great question:
    "Would it be right to say that the mastery of the path has to do with learning to adapt fast?"
Just yesterday i was chatting to someone about this. You reach a certain level, master something and then life changes again, wanting to take you to a deeper level. It's constantly changing and we have to become infinitely flexible and adaptable. Often I hear people who truly start walking the path saying "I don't know who I am anymore". And I say: "brilliant! That's exactly the place to be, because the true self doesn't know what it is until it happens!"

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Would it be right to say that the mastery of the path has to do with learning to adapt fast?

It would include sensitivity to what is happening, flexibility or surrender to it and letting go of what was up till this moment and a fast reaction - a cooperation with willpower to break through whatever is in the way and do what is needed/demanded without getting too rigid and in the head about it?

And what would be your tip about doubt - when you feel there is a thread, but you are not sure what it is, and also there are other things that are coming into landscape as if to distract OR help to sort out what to do in comparison with what not to do hhhh

I tried waiting until it gets clearer. But then what happened to me a lot is that things didn't get any clearer and I found out that I was dissolving something on the way. So I learned not to wait, but act and then find out what is the wrong/right thing to do.

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Great question Yulia. Yes I've experienced similar. The paradox is the path. That's exactly where the path is to be found - within the grey areas of feeling. That's where the expansion possibility is. I'd say you're being invited to work with the ebb and flow harmony of Ray 1 Warrior and Ray 2 divine feminine surrender. There's surrender, but surrender is not the same as acceptance of anything goes. This is a realisation for many. So when we surrender (ray 2), an impulse will arise to 'do something'. There's then invited a full commitment to the unfolding path, without owning it or being owned by it or denying it. Hope this helps!

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Absolutely wonderful article, Thanks!

I have a small question.

During recent year I went through a series of challenging situations and events that actually made me feel as if I am demanded to make a choice, to 'know' what I want to do now and then empower myself through following it no matter what. The only thing I didn't know is whether the choice I've made is right or wrong (aligned or not) hhhh

So there WAS not-knowing in the process, but within this not-knowing I had to focus on something and make my way to it. It feels like almost spiritual growing up, spiritual teenagehood. Like "that's it, flowing joyously on the wave is over and now please, make choices and take responsibilities", which is tough.

What is your 'understanding' of this paradox? I mean, did you experience anything like it?

My shot: there is the way of getting connected to ray 2 (through vulnerability) and there is a way to connect to ray 1 (possibly through just doing it?)...