Is it true that harshness of life steals away softer feelings?

I think that there are people that develop a "harshness" to them to keep themselves safe from the pain of being hurt. These are normally people that have had very rough lives or very bad things happen to them. Therefore they tend to shut out the world by shutting down their emotions. Even people that work hard and have demanding careers can have a softer side to them. They may have families at home, a spouse, or even a pet they care for. I feel that the harshness of a person depends on their life experiences. You see, I have a very low self-esteem and opinion of myself. Everyone who knows me, thinks I am happy, sarcastic, funny, etc. and have no clue as to how I really feel about myself. This is a type of "harshness" I put on so that the outside world cannot harm me. My husband, he knows me. He knows my insecurities. He's the one I cry to when I hold it all inside from the world. I can't cry or walk around depressed all day at work or at the store, so my "harshness" my sarcasm, my happy face, they all come out when in public. But if someone says something to me that hurts, as soon as I'm alone, that's when my true identity comes out. You can never quite judge a person from what you see when interacting with them or even just watching them. There may be a softer side to every one, just behind closed doors.

You are SO lucky ,Melody!Lol I am sure poetic hearts connect with the softer emotions and I believe it's a huge blessing.The ability to be lost in solitude and rejoice in a world inside us is such a great feeling.Even when people around us don't live up to our expectations ,we can still be happy.We don't have to look around for happiness. Yes, it's true that sometimes the harsh realities of life can sway us away from the softer feelings.We might forget the real purpose of our existence when we are too caught up in trying to survive.But if we truly cherish those sweet feelings I don't think it's hard to find them and I can relate to the way you feel about the softer emotions :-)

Quote: Do you also feel that hardships/harshness of life robs people of their gentle and soft feelings? sad but true,i do fell that hardships in life have robbed people of softer feelings.but there are a few people who not only get stronger through hardships but never lose there gentle and soft feeling.i think i am one of them(not sure)and i'm pretty sure you're one of them too

I think a lot of people grow a hard shell to protect themselves from the harsh reality of the world. I have often felt that my *shell* isn't really hard enough as my feelings are too close to the surface a lot of the time. I have a tag line I have used on occasions that sums up how I feel about this. "Reality sucks, please don't mess with the fantasy"

YA i think its true in this world.Though everybody is searching for happiness,love affection but yet due to bad experiences the life does'nt goes the way ppl want it to.Many things happen on which u don' have control.But since the desire for soft feelings is everyone's instinct they come out as the things come to normal trck.

Yes and No! It depends on if you let things affect u or not. I do believe that too many hardships or problems in your life will weigh u down, but eventually u have to see the light and work your way back to being postive. Negativity is contagious. And me myself I live in LA LA Land and I know this, but i love it.

I guess somehow that could happen. I mean if it isn't all the time you get to be harsh then it isn't that bad at all.

yes, it is true.harsh realities and experiences come as a blow to the softer emotions.person living in ideal world of softer emotions gets jolted up..........but,it only steals away and makes you more worldly wise.but still they don't die because i feel softer feelings though are soft but have deep roots in kindness and humanity.so they revive the minute you meet a person similar to you and that is how one learns to differentiate between selfish and generous people.

yes da hardships n harshness tuk all of da sweetness n softness frm u.......bt al of dze thngs r used in da matrs.........

It's true that the harshness of life can make a person bitter and hard and then it's easy to not notice the nicer softer feelings. Personally I find that if you roll with the punches and just accept that's how life is (although of course you can still complain and rant about it all) then you're more likely to see the nice side of life again and at least be able to enjoy certain things and have gentle thoughts and feelings again.

Only if people allow it to happen! I have had many hardships and difficulties over the years and I still like to think I am caring, nurturing person - although I can be harder when I really need to be. We are what we allow ourselves to be - not just what experience makes us!