There are many reasons for and ways of becoming hard in our cruel world. You may think a hard heart is a good and protective thing. When harm or disappointment comes, a natural human response is to develop a tough and closed heart. But that also closes you off to the good things God intends for you and wants to work in you. Is there a way to cherish a soft heart in a tough world? Mother, writer, and teacher Charaia Rush is Dr. Carol's guest on this encouraging episode. They talk about how shame and pain can harden our heart, what a hard heart is and isn't, and God's process for softening our heart which opens us up to all His good things. Connect with Charaia Rush on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Find Charaia's book Courageously Soft: Daring to Keep a Tender Heart in a Tough World    Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships And look around at all the supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.