How Interconnection and Empathy Transform Even the Most Powerful—and Why Suppressing Vulnerability Backfires

In high-stress or adversarial situations, our default settings urge us to armor up—shut down empathy and power through. That’s what most traditional power hierarchies teach: don't let weakness show, don't let enemies close. But as Magda finds in the dungeons of her old world, and later in her rescue of Honey’s soul, this survival reflex begins to backfire. Moments of real connection—whether in allies or former adversaries—emerge when vulnerability and empathy are not suppressed but carefully surfaced.

Imagine a crowded meeting where arguments escalate and everyone’s shields are up. Stepping back to notice a colleague’s clenched jaw or forced joke can crack open a different path: you name an emotion (“This seems tense for all of us, huh?”), disrupting the cycle of blame or shut-down. In Magda’s world, empathy becomes not softness but the selective ability to read the room, spot fragility, and intentionally decide when to share your own (as when she finally apologizes to Kirk, or attempts to comfort Kaelan even through her own pain).

Psychological research (e.g., Brene Brown, vulnerability studies) shows that leaders and teams with the courage to name and navigate vulnerability outperform those locked into armored postures. The paradox: controlled access to empathy and shared pain fortifies groups more than pretend invulnerability ever does.

When you catch yourself in a defensive or aggressive mood—maybe during a clash at home or in class—pause for a minute and really notice how your body and nerves are reacting. Ask yourself, if I flip my focus to the other person, what are they showing beneath their words or bravado? Without losing your boundaries, consider if there’s a genuine, safe way to share your own struggle or question instead of covering it up. Try this shift once today, and observe whether it changes the tone of the interaction or opens a surprising channel of trust.