"Being in a relationship makes me vulnerable...."

THE DILEMMA 

"Being in a relationship makes me vulnerable, 

I open myself up to the other person, causing me pain...".

I read this in the Sunday Observer magazine.

It grabbed me because  of my commitment a journey into understanding the interior life of myself and others.

In my 1979 study of Gangs I concluded that the worst (Urban) deprivation I was considering, was not 'Urban' after all.

It was a human condition when humans numb their emotions to survive.

That then creates a crippling impact that has a massive implications on 

all relationships AND authentic communication.

Here is the full letter from the Observer - 

the response from the 'Agony Aunt'  was good I felt.

I was asked out by someone I work with.

I was put on 'the spot and said yes because I couldn't

bring my self to reject him.

I am friends with this person and didn't want to hurt his feelings.

I have problems with relationships as they make me stressed rather than happy.

After I said yes

I immediately regretted it.

Being in a relationship makes me vulnerable,

I open myself up to the other person, causing me pain,

and all I can think about is how I am no longer "hard".

When my mother died I shut off most emotion

and I don't want to let it affect me now.

I don't want to hurt his feelings

but I don't feel comfortable with aboy friend.

What should I do?

FULL ARTICLE HERE

FURTHER READING OF MY JOURNEY