11/06/2025
When it’s hard to speak up, but also difficult just to listen to your partner.
One of the most painful experiences in any relationship is when a person gathers the courage to speak up about something that hurts them day after day. They don’t come to argue or accuse, but to heal. They speak from a place of deep vulnerability—because they care, because they still believe in the connection, because they’re hoping things can be better.
They’re hoping that maybe this time, they’ll be heard. That the other person will truly listen, see the pain behind the words, and respond with empathy. But instead of leaning in, the other person puts up walls. Instead of listening, they deflect. They might become cold, sarcastic, defensive—or angry. The focus quickly shifts from what is being said to how it’s being said. The message gets lost. The pain goes unseen.
And that hurts in a way that’s hard to explain. Because beneath that reaction lies a message that wounds far deeper than the words exchanged: Your feelings are too much. Your pain is inconvenient. Your voice doesn’t matter. What started as a plea for understanding turns into another moment of silence, another buried hurt, another emotional withdrawal disguised as “keeping the peace.”
But peace without understanding isn’t peace—it’s quiet built on fear and self-denial. It’s walking on eggshells. It’s holding your breath. It’s slowly losing pieces of yourself to avoid rocking the boat.
Over time, these moments create self-doubt. “Maybe I’m too sensitive.” “Maybe I should let it go.” “Maybe this isn’t really a big deal.” But deep down, the inner truth doesn’t go away. There’s still a knowing—a quiet, persistent knowing—of what respect, love, and emotional safety should feel like. And this isn’t it.
When someone opens up about their pain, it’s not an attack—it’s a gift. It’s a sign that they still care enough to fight for the relationship. It’s an invitation for closeness, for growth, for healing. But when that vulnerability is met with anger or dismissal, it doesn’t just close the door in that moment—it chips away at the foundation of trust. It doesn’t just distance people emotionally—it wounds them spiritually.
Because nothing is more damaging than being made to feel wrong for wanting to be treated right.