Behind the Scenes of «Dancing»: Vulnerability
17/10/2024 | carlosgoga | dancing our way, English, experiencias, nuevas tecnologías | No hay comentarios
Vulnerability. Another word like uncertainty that evokes discomfort and, for many, a sense of exposure. In a world that values strength, vulnerability is often seen as the weakness to avoid. And yet, throughout my writing of Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness, I’ve come to understand that vulnerability is a powerful force for connection, growth, and transformation.
Today, I want to reflect on how vulnerability has shaped this book and my life as an author. It weaves through love, relationships, and even our engagement with technology like AI—a thread that runs deep in the exploration of the human experience.
Vulnerability in Relationships: The Foundation of Deep Connection
As I wrote Part 5: Kizomba with Our Soulmate, I found myself reflecting on vulnerability within intimate relationships. Nowhere is it more crucial than when we open ourselves to love. In true connection, we expose our insecurities, fears, and past wounds, allowing ourselves to be seen as we really are. Vulnerability in love requires trust—the kind of trust that risks rejection or pain in the hope of deeper connection.
Vulnerability fosters “reciprocity”. When one partner opens up, it creates a safe space for the other to do the same. This exchange deepens trust and builds a connection that can weather the storms of life. Like in the dance of Kizomba, true connection requires full openness—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Without vulnerability, relationships stay on the surface. By daring to be vulnerable with our partner, we create the space for growth. Vulnerability invites intimacy, the kind that allows both partners to evolve together, transforming the relationship into something far richer and more meaningful.
Vulnerability in Creativity: Embracing the Unknown
Vulnerability is not just about relationships with others; it also plays a critical role in our relationship with ourselves, and especially in the way we approach a creative process. Writing this book, for example, has been an exercise in vulnerability. When I first set out to write, I didn’t have all the answers. I had ideas, experiences, and a vision, but there was no guarantee that I would be able to bring them together in a coherent way. There were times when I questioned whether I was on the right path, whether my message would resonate, or whether I was revealing too much of myself.
Creativity demands that we step into the unknown, embracing the uncertainty of where the process will lead. Vulnerability in creation is the willingness to let go of perfection, to trust that something meaningful will emerge even if it doesn’t align with our original expectations. It is this vulnerability that is pushing us beyond our comfort zones into a space of real discovery.
Another layer of vulnerability I’ve experienced throughout the writing of this book is the choice not to follow every track, not to unfold every concept to its fullest extent, and not to tell every story that could be told. There’s always the temptation to explain everything, to reveal all the layers behind each idea, and to share every piece of wisdom I’ve gathered over the years. But choosing instead to hold back, to leave space for the reader’s interpretation and discovery, has been an act of trust in you, the reader, to engage deeply and draw your own insights from the narrative. This choice, too, has left me feeling vulnerable, as it goes against my instinct to control the message. Yet, I believe that true connection and understanding come from this shared space of exploration, where the reader brings their own perspective to the journey. By not sharing everything, I am inviting you to become an active participant in the unfolding of these ideas, allowing them to resonate in your own unique way.
Maybe at this moment I am at my peak of vulnerability. I opened the reading of the manuscript under the MVB formula to my acquaintances, and a group of very talented people are going through my words. There is this side of me who feels enormous gratitude for their trust and willingness to support me with their feedback. But there is also the other part of me who is scared to death because maybe there is no feedback at all, or there is feedback but in an unexpected and negative direction. During my early morning meditations, when I observed these uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, I ground myself in vulnerability as a willingness to receive whatever comes and make the best of it.
Vulnerability in the Age of AI: A New Frontier
In Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness, I reflect on the vulnerability required to engage with AI. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, it confronts us with the unknown—what does it mean for my future? How will it change my interactions, my work, and even my sense of self? Engaging with these questions evoked fear, but it also sparked my curiosity.
Much like in relationships and creativity, navigating AI requires me to be open to new possibilities while staying grounded in our values. In my writing process, I’ve worked with AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Croc, Midjourney, and NotebookLM. At this moment, I can easily recognize that I have gone through an emotional and mental dance which included insecurity, discomfort, ignorance, learning, surprise, guilt, reconciliation, admiration, satisfaction, and even pride. But overall, I moved from that place of uncertainty, trusting that I could navigate this new frontier without losing the authenticity of my humanity.
In my writing process with the help of AI, vulnerability is about daring to “walk my talk” and “talk my walk” from the ground up. Every step I take in exploring the future of human-AI consciousness is mirrored by the vulnerability I face in my own life—professionally, personally, and creatively. Writing about AI while actively using AI to support this process challenges me to embody the very ideas I am sharing with you. It’s not just about theorizing vulnerability, but about living it—allowing AI to guide my creative journey, being open to feedback, and letting the process unfold without control or certainty. This has become a practice of vulnerability at its core, manifesting itself in every aspect of my life, as I navigate the unknown and trust the unfolding path.
The Key of Embracing Vulnerability
Ultimately, I am choosing that vulnerability is not something to fear—it is a catalyst for transformation. Whether in relationships, creativity, or my exploration of new technologies, vulnerability is allowing me to grow, connect, and deepen my understanding of myself and the world around me.
At its root, vulnerability is about stepping into the unknown. It’s about growth, love, and becoming more of who I am. But it’s also about confronting the parts of myself that I often hide—the parts that are not polished or perfect. By embracing vulnerability, I open myself to life’s richness. It’s through the cracks that the light enters, and it’s through vulnerability that we find the strength to keep moving forward.
As you continue your journey through the pages of Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness, I invite you to lean into vulnerability—not just as an abstract idea, but as a practice. In doing so, you may find (as I have done) that the path forward is more fulfilling than you ever imagined.