I'll give it my all next time around..

Humans are social creatures, instinctively meant to be paired, right?  It is our nature to couple, mate, and coexist.  Our bodies produce hormones to attract potential partners and to bond once said partner has been attracted.  With nature working so hard to ensure that your existence is not a lonely one, why on earth are you still single?

Fear is an emotion triggered by distress.  It often operates in the unconscious mind, preventing you from knowing how hard it’s really working to steer you away from potential danger.  You’re attractive, easy to like, and you have a good strong set of teeth; yet you still have no plus one.

The dating world can be a frightening place.  Maybe you’re afraid of being rejected, being hurt, or that it will end badly. Perhaps you are afraid that your partner will tire of you, discover that you have flaws, or leave you for no reason at all.  These are all valid fears, but being afraid can also equal being alone.

Love does not come with a heart back guarantee.  There is no warranty that can be used to replace a lost love.  Loving someone means being vulnerable, it means exposing your tender parts, with hope that you will be handled with care.  Opening your heart is like giving someone a free pass to experience the whole of you, naked and unguarded.

You weren’t born with the tools to combat rejection; you acquired these tools from past experience.  Here’s the good news, not every experience will be a bad one.  The vast majority of people have good hearts and good intentions.  Like you, everyone innately wants to feel desired, loved, and adored.

It’s time for you to give your guard a vacation and take a chance.  Give yourself permission to be open.  You don’t have to be an open book, but be open to the possibilities.  Introduce yourself and the world to the person who has been hiding behind the iron mask.  This world has so much to offer and so many interesting people to share in the experience.

In order to truly live a full life, there has to be a level of vulnerability.  You may not be able to see into the future, but an open heart will act as a GPS to guide you in the right direction.  It's okay to be vulnerable and just give your heart to someone else.