i can't take that in

examining emotional nourishment barriers

we all build walls. (we might even decorate them.)

Do you sometimes get squeamish when receiving attention, praise, recognition, compliments, support, validation, gifts, connection, or love? Let’s talk about the discomfort of receiving emotional nourishment. When we have a hard time receiving one, some, or all of these inputs, it is considered a type of nourishment barrier.

Essentially, a nourishment barrier refers to a denial to take in certain types of goodness in order to protect what feels most vulnerable in the self. That may sound ridiculous because why the heck would we deflect the good stuff like love and all those things I listed above?

It’s something we do from an early age. We build these barriers within us as we collect life experiences that disappoint us, harm us, or break our sweet, tender hearts. Generally, this happens early on (usually in our first relationships with caregivers) when nourishing inputs come with strings attached, and/or they are given alongside manipula…