Article: Ask yourself if you ever put up walls to avoid getting hurt. Opening up to someone can feel risky, and it’s okay if you’ve ever been afraid to let someone get too close. Falling in love involves making yourself vulnerable, and understanding your defenses is the first step to lowering them.  If you’ve had relationships in the past, think about times when you avoided getting close to your partner. For instance, maybe you didn't tell them how much you liked them out of fear that they wouldn't feel the same. It’s tough to think about defense mechanisms, especially since they’re usually related to getting hurt in the past. Try to be honest with yourself, and remember that everyone has insecurities and fears. Remember that no one’s perfect, and accept yourself for who you are. Embracing yourself can help make it easier to open up to a romantic partner and fall in love with them.  That said, there’s always room to grow. For instance, you can't make yourself taller or shorter, but you can work on eating healthy and exercising to be your healthiest self. Remind yourself that you’re a great person, and you have a lot of wonderful qualities! Look in the mirror and tell yourself, “You’re a good person, so don’t be afraid to be yourself! Let your guard down, and allow yourself to fall in love.” Everyone has an inner critic, and sometimes self-critical thoughts can become irrational and unrealistic. If you notice yourself thinking things like “You’re no good” or “They’ll never love you,” stop the thought process and remind yourself to stay objective. Playing hard-to-get and withholding feelings are common practices in today’s dating world. However, it’s better to be honest about your feelings. While you don’t have to share every little detail on the first date, try to be authentic instead of playing games.  For instance, if you went on a date with someone and had a good time, tell them. If you want to text, “Thanks for a fun night! I had a great time,” do it. Don’t feel like you have to wait 3 days before calling or pretend you’re not into them to make them chase you. Opening up is an important part of building a close relationship. You don’t have to confess your deepest feelings right away, but you and your partner won’t fall in love by playing games with each other. Loving someone who doesn’t love you back hurts, but it’s something everyone experiences. You can move on from pain, even if it seems impossible in the moment. However, you’ll miss out on everything great about being in love if you never let yourself take the risk. If you do put yourself out there and get turned down, don’t see it as the end of the world. Relationships fizzle for lots of reasons. Being incompatible with someone doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Identify your defense mechanisms. Accept things about yourself that you can't change. Redirect overly critical thoughts. Resist the urge to play games. Don’t be afraid of rejection.