The Courage to Keep an Open-Heart

One of the most courageous things a person can be is soft. What I mean is that when life hurts you, it is a normal reaction to harden your heart to not let it get broken again. That hardening is a protective wall. It makes sense why it is there, and it plays an important role for us, but it can also be limiting. While a wall stops hardships from entering, it also keeps us enclosed in our pain and prevents us from experiencing new wonders. Therefore, it takes a brave person to not keep those walls up and to instead embrace the unknown. With that courage is also a confidence that you are wiser and more capable of handling difficult things in the future. In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, "Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place." Going to therapy can help build up that belief that you are strong and smart enough to confront challenges, but the courage to actually allow those challenges into your life comes from within you. You must risk your heart if you want to let in more fun and adventure.

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place."

~ Kurt Vonnegut