“What once protected you may now be the thing that keeps love out.”
You learned how to protect yourself.
Maybe it was silence. Or sarcasm. Or staying busy. Maybe it was being perfect, being invisible, being angry.
These were not flaws. They were armor. And at one time, they kept you safe.
But healing means asking: *Do I still need this?*
Walls can block out pain. But they also block out connection.
You deserve to feel held, not just hardened. Loved, not just guarded.
Releasing the armor doesn’t mean you’ll be hurt again. It means you trust yourself to respond if you are.
So today, thank the shield. Then begin to set it down.
*You are strong enough now to let softness in.*
Sit in a quiet place and close your eyes. Visualize yourself wearing heavy armor — layers of metal, brick, defenses. With each breath, imagine gently removing a piece. Feel the weight lift. Whisper: 'Thank you for protecting me. I’m safe now.'
Write down one protective pattern you’ve used — defensiveness, withdrawal, overachievement, etc. Then journal: 'What was it protecting me from?' and 'What might be possible without it?'
Isla F. “My whole life I used sarcasm as a shield. It kept people from getting too close. But deep down I just wanted to be seen. This practice helped me realize I can be safe and still be soft. It’s scary — but it’s beautiful too.”
You are not weak for opening. You are wise for knowing when the armor has served its purpose.