{"_id":"684af3bed59e413de961a394","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"How should I balance wanting to protect myself emotionally without pushing others away?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I am a soft person on the inside and very protective about it. Because of this, I can sometimes come off as a rude and ill-mannered person. How can I find a balance between being hurt and hurting others?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"It’s common for people who are soft-hearted or sensitive to come off as distant or even rude without meaning to. When you're just trying to protect yourself, it can sometimes be misunderstood. But just because you're setting boundaries doesn’t mean you’re being rude; rudeness is when you intentionally ignore or hurt someone’s feelings, and that’s clearly not what you’re doing.\\n\\nThat said, it can help to work on how you set those boundaries. Try taking a second before you respond to people, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed. A short pause can make a big difference in how you come across.\\n\\nAlso, even if you're not up for full conversations, small gestures like smiling, saying salam, or giving a quick nod can go a long way. You don’t have to be super talkative or social, but those little things can help people see your good intentions.\\n\\nAt the end of the day, everyone’s different. What matters is finding your own balance. The Prophet ﷺ wasn’t overly social, but he wasn’t withdrawn either, he was calm, present, and kind. That’s the kind of balance we should aim for too.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668da0320b76658b4c2330a7","tag":"Worship: Tazkiyyah","count":87},{"_id":"6771f804780db971903c8df1","tag":"Relationships: Other","count":35}],"createdOn":"2025-06-12T15:35:26.014Z"}