The Strength Of A Soft Heart

There is a common misconception that being 'hard' or 'emotionless' is a sign of strength. We see people being cold and calculating, and we think that’s the way to survive in this economy. But actually, closing yourself off is the easy way out. It’s a defense mechanism for people who are afraid of being hurt. It takes zero courage to be a cynic. It takes massive, terrifying courage to stay vulnerable and to keep caring when there are plenty of reasons not to. A soft heart is actually a sign of elite-level resilience.

When you stay open, you allow yourself to feel the bad stuff, yes, but you also stay receptive to the good. If you numb yourself to pain, you also numb yourself to joy and hope. You end up in this gray, middle-ground existence where nothing really matters. To truly live, you have to risk being affected by the world. You have to be willing to try for a goal even if you might fail, or to love someone even if they might leave. That willingness to engage with life—full-stop—is where hope is born.

Hope is an active commitment to remaining human. It’s about choosing to be the person who checks in on a friend, or the person who still believes that small acts of service matter. These things might seem trivial, but they are the things that keep our society from falling apart. When you lead with your heart, you invite others to do the same. You create a environment where hope can actually breathe. It’s about being the person you wish you had in your life when things were at their worst.

Don't let a bad experience turn you into someone you're not. It’s okay to be hurt, and it’s okay to take time to heal, but don't let the scars dictate your personality. You can be aware of the risks and still choose to be kind. You can know how hard the world is and still look for the beauty in it. That isn't being naive; it’s being intentional. Your sensitivity is not a weakness; it is the very thing that makes your life worth living. Keep your heart soft and your resolve hard.