The Viral Cycle in Relationships

When people experience a sense of being understood, they are drawn closer to those who understand them. But in tenuous relationships, there's something of a vicious cycle: the more insecure we feel, the more hesitant we become about sharing elements of ourselves that might be judged harshly by others. The less we share, the less close we feel to others. We really have to learn how to focus our attention on the other person rather than ourselves.