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Making meaningful connections with others is one of life's greatest pleasures. And people who consciously let their guard down open their hearts to the world of love.
In life, people build metaphorical walls to protect themselves from heartbreak and disappointments, according to Life Connections Counseling. Yet, by putting up these protective guards, you can limit yourself to the infinite opportunities that exist on the other side.
When it comes to opening up your heart again after a breakup, devoting time to healing is key. As you move through your healing journey, you’ll learn how to let your guard down while protecting yourself along the way. These three steps can bring you heartwarming moments in life.
Learn to love yourself first
Before you can commit to loving another person, you must first learn to love yourself. Practicing self-love can boost a person's psychological well-being, improve interpersonal relationships, and motivate them to accomplish their goals, according to Psychology Today.
Self-care may seem like the new craze, but it’s a concept that carries great healing and is something everyone should practice. When you start devoting time to taking care of yourself, spending quality time with yourself, and speaking kindly to yourself, you’ll notice significant shifts in the way you can love others.
Why not take yourself on an intimate date and get to know you the way you would an ideal romantic partner to ease yourself into letting down your guard and opening up to love?
Practice forgiveness
In a way, forgiveness can feel like an act of vulnerability that exposes one to more suffering. In fact, according to US News & World Report, forgiveness can promote better relationships, ignite an optimistic outlook on life, and improve a person's overall psychological state.
However, being hurt can be devastating physically and emotionally, so you need a way to let go and move on. Forgiveness, whether it’s towards yourself or others, can be highly healing and the gateway to moving on to love again.
When you practice forgiveness, you are actively taking steps towards letting down your guard again while feeling at peace, according to the Mayo Clinic. In this way, you can welcome new beginnings and not allow past experiences to hold you back.
Establish boundaries
Just because you are letting your guard down doesn’t mean your expectations have to drop. When you have clear, healthy boundaries, you’re setting the bar for what you stand for and what you do not, according to PsychCentral. Among these boundaries could be honesty, gratitude, understanding each other's feelings, and respect.
Stay true to yourself along the way and ensure you set healthy boundaries moving forward to protect your emotional well-being. It’s important for you to make these boundaries clear when you meet new people; think of them as your invisible cloak of protection that prevents you from getting hurt again.
It’s only natural to venture inwards after you’ve experienced grief or heartache, but here’s your gentle reminder that time heals everything. Moving through these hardships and coming out the other side stronger will help you open yourself up to love again.
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