“Genuine sincerity opens people’s hearts, while manipulation causes them to close.” -Daisaku Ikeda

Sincerity can make you feel dangerously vulnerable. When you open your heart you can’t be certain other people will treat it with care. When you keep it closed to avoid being hurt you don’t give them the chance.

People don’t always respond to sincerity in kind, but more would than you likely realize. We really aren’t that different. We all want to feel connected, understood, appreciated, and loved. We all want to know it’s safe to ask for it.

Risk being sincere today. Be who you are and say what you feel. Open yourself to authentic, loving interactions, and focus on the positive it creates.