Vulnerability isn’t good or bad. It’s not what we call a dark emotion, nor is it always a light, positive experience. Vulnerability is the core of all emotions and feelings. To feel is to be vulnerable. To believe vulnerability is weakness is to believe that feeling is weakness. To foreclose on our emotional life out of a fear that the costs will be too high is to walk away from the very thing that gives purpose and meaning to living.[…]Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.

That's a mind blowing thought: That vulnerability creates meaning, purpose, clarity.

That's a bigger leap than the notion that vulnerability creates empathy.

I'm going to have to think about that.

Yes, I think vulnerability is an essential element in meaning, purpose, and clarity.  I'm very interested to find out the result of your contemplations on this subject.

This line: "I don't even know what to say right now, I'm just glad that you told me."

That creates connection.

From connection can come meaning and purpose. 

I wonder what you concluded:  does vulnerability create meaning, purpose, and clarity?

Not by itself. 

Meaning and purpose come from a mission.

Clarity comes from listening.

Vulnerability can deepen a connection, which is good for listening. 

Thanks for letting me know.  Interesting.

So maybe vulnerability is not essential to meaning in your view, it's just the icing on the cake?

That's what I believe, yes. 

The Brene Brown TED Talk is definitely worth watching.

More notes on that video:

http://pandawhale.com/post/54431/rsa-shorts-the-power-of-empathy-and-how-it-differs-from-sympathy-by-brene-brown