To navigate life and protect ourselves, we often learn—sometimes without realizing it—to hold in our emotions, to hide what we truly feel. Like a gambler carefully guarding their next move, we build a kind of armour: a protective shell that shields us from hurt and helps maintain our self-esteem.
This is normal. It is part of how we cope.
But when this armour becomes constant, always on, it can start to distance us from ourselves. Our reactions may no longer reflect what we truly want or feel. We may find that the person behind the armour feels hidden, even from ourselves.
One way to understand this armour is to notice our triggers. When do we feel the need to put it on? When do we hold our emotions tightly inside? Which people, places, or situations fill us with energy, joy, and connection—and which leave us feeling drained, guarded, or closed off?
By observing these moments, we begin to see not only the armour we wear but also the freedom to choose when, and with whom, we truly lower it. In doing so, we reconnect with ourselves—and with the life that gives us energy and joy.