Vulnerability is Not a Bad Thing

‘A number of communities said in focus group discussions they had observed significant changes in the weather patterns over time. However, 90 percent perceived these changes to be “due to grace of God” and had no clue how much human activity had contributed to the problem.’

Does this sound familiar to you? The people around you know that the climate is changing but they don’t understand that they have to take action themselves to prepare for its effects? This is more common than you think.

People don’t like to think of themselves as potentially vulnerable to an unnamed calamity so they deal with that by pretending there is nothing they can do about it. They focus on other issues which are less frightening and feel more productive (see here for a good example), pursuing agendas which don’t shed light on their risk or vulnerability.

Being aware of your vulnerability is unsettling and can provoke anxiety and depression and nobody wants to live like that. But fear is more likely to lead to inaction rather than taking a proactive stance and trying to get things done. Getting started can feel overwhelming, so we have a few tips.

First, recognize that you are not alone in your vulnerability. When it comes to climate change and disasters it is shared. Thus, reducing your vulnerability is not a task you are required to undertake on your own. You may have some ideas and your family others - there is strength in numbers when it comes to deciding what to do.

Second, recognize that you are responsible for your own actions - or inaction. While the challenges of climate change were forced upon Pacific islanders despite their near zero contributions to the crisis, you only further increase your vulnerability if you choose to pretend it isn’t happening or that there is nothing you can do about it. Take for example someone diagnosed with cancer. They’ve been dealt a terrible and frightening hand, but now the choice is theirs to either suffer through the pain of treatment so that they can have a better life later, or to choose no treatment because they don't want to deal with their reality.

Finally, understand that vulnerability is not a weakness. It just is. It will never completely disappear, but it can be dealt with and managed. We all have vulnerabilities (whether big or small) and they are only a detriment if we don’t accept them.