When Your Heart Is Genuine, You Will Be Hurt – But Don’t Let It Change Who You Are

Written by Lorraine at Confidence Unlocked

Let’s just tell the truth:

When your heart is open and your soul is genuine, you will be hurt. There’s no escaping it.

People will misunderstand you.

They’ll take advantage of your kindness.

They might leave without explanation, or disappoint you in ways you never saw coming.

And sometimes, the ache of it will make you question whether being soft is even worth it.

But here’s what I want you to hear loud and clear: you are not broken because you feel deeply. You are not weak because you choose to love fully. And you are definitely not wrong for showing up in this world with a wide open heart.

The Truth About Being Open-Hearted

You can build walls to protect yourself—but then nothing gets in.

You can shut down—but then you miss out on real connection, the kind your soul actually craves.

Or… you can learn to stay soft and strong at the same time.

You can feel the hurt, honour the lesson, and still keep your integrity. Still keep your empathy. Still keep your you-ness.

That’s emotional maturity. That’s power.

How to Stay Soft Without Getting Crushed

Here’s what’s helped me (and maybe it’ll help you too):

Set quiet boundaries without hardening your heart. You don’t have to announce them to the world—just honour them consistently. Feel it all. Don’t bypass the pain with positivity. Let it flow, so it doesn’t stick. Remember who you are before the world tried to toughen you up. That version of you? Still worthy. Still valuable. Still enough. Trust that not everyone deserves access to the deepest parts of you—and that’s okay. Your heart is precious, not public property.

Keep Loving, Anyway

Some people will never understand how rare it is to love the way you do.

That’s not your burden to carry.

You’re here to love fully, live deeply, and lead with light—even if it sometimes costs you.

Don’t let the hurt make you cold. Don’t let the world convince you that your softness is a flaw. It’s your superpower.

Stay tender. Stay true. And most of all—stay you.

Read next: [Why You’ll Never Be Enough—And Why That’s Your Superpower]