How To Soften Yourself and Be Stronger at The Same Time

[u/ScarleteenOrg]

https://www.scarleteen.com/read/feelings/how-soften-yourself-be-stronger-same-time

https://www.scarleteen.com/read/feelings/how-soften-yourself-be-stronger-same-time

[u/ScarleteenOrg]

"Practicing softness isn’t about giving up your boundaries, abandoning your values or escaping accountability. It’s about understanding that meaningful connections and fruitful conversations are rewards worth the emotional risks. Being able to connect and relate with others is a prerequisite for well-being and happiness. It’s crucial to reframe what softness really means to embody it— it means being your stronger self by allowing others to see who you really are, by taking responsibility for your actions, words and behaviour, by voicing your boundaries, hurt and other feelings, by sustaining connections in a healthy way, by feeling genuinely empathetic and connected to others, and by aligning yourself to your truer version."

More than just a guide, this new article by Vartika Puranik feels like an invitation to a new way of relating and being. Through both implicit and explicit learning, many of us have taken to heart that hardness and toughness are the only way to survive in a world that will eat you whole if you show weakness. Vartika explores an alternative to those lessons and offers ways to embrace and embody softness in this beautifully written piece.

Find this new article by Vartika Puranik here: How To Soften Yourself and Be Stronger at The Same Time

[Image descriptions: Slide 1: Aqua text in all-caps: “Softness is an embodiment of respectfulness, friendliness and compassion, and of openness and vulnerability. When you don’t feel safe enough or are constantly evaluating people and situations to detect threats, being soft can be hard.” Two soft-looking plush toys hug beneath the text. Behind these is a cream background watermarked with Scarleteen's "S" logo and tagline "Queer Sex Ed for All since 1998."

Slide 2: Aqua text in all-caps: “Softness is essential not just for your relationships and interactions with others, but also for you to thrive and to show up with tenderness for yourself. If you’ve been looking for a guide on how to soften yourself, or want to know if you need to, Vartika Puranik has made one to help you become the softie you’re meant to be.” Behind these is a cream background watermarked with Scarleteen's "S" logo and tagline "Queer Sex Ed for All since 1998."]