Jay-Z Wants You To Be Vulnerable

Letting love in means being open and honest about our feelings

“I suck at love, I think I need a do-over

I’d be emotionally available if I invited you over.” — Jay-Z “4:44”

We back at it! It’s your friendly neighborhood writer and storyteller Joel Leon returning once again with your weekly dose of “What Would Hov Do?,” the Medium weekly column that tackles life’s problems with a little help from some Jay-Z bars.

If there’s a topic or question you think could be answered with some assistance from yours truly and Hovito, feel free to drop your question here; you may see your anonymous response shared and answered.

For many of us, being vulnerable isn’t second nature. At all. It’s a space that might not feel safe. As children, our soft and tender parts can harden with pressure from our families, the media, or gender restrictions that keep us from leaning into love.

Love is our most natural state. For many, opening up to love’s possibilities feels like we’re opening ourselves to hurt and rejection. I’ve been on both sides of the fence — as a beneficiary of free and fluid love, and having that love quickly taken away. It took therapy, a lot of reading, and a lot of alone time (and a lot of dating) for me to learn just how…