It’s possible to do both at the same time.
It seems almost impractical, to be vulnerable while also feeling safe. The very definition of vulnerability entails a level of defenselessness. To truly experience love, we have to be open. We have to surrender the control that pride and ego wish to maintain in favor of offering the most honest, authentic version of ourselves.
How can we do such a thing while also protecting our hearts from abuse? I believe the answer is not in seeking to withhold anything in an attempt to avoid disappointment, but in practicing selective engagement.
When you value something, you’re choosy about who’s allowed to garner possession. It’s not community property that anyone can have or use. You definitely don’t continue giving it to the person who has already caused considerable damage. There are standards in place and enforced as to how it’s cared for by others.
Nothing is valuable if not our hearts.
As the saying goes, everything that we do flows from it. Our outlook on life, vitality, demeanor, state of mind, mental and emotional well-being, and the way we treat others stems from our hearts’ condition. If it’s not right, nothing else will be.
