Ironically, owning up to your vulnerabilities seems to be the best way to avoid getting hurt. Sometimes, when you try to fool yourself to shield your pride, you leave yourself open to being misled by others. Similarly, you could magnify a perceived slight into much more than whats there and start a needless conflict. Nevertheless, you derive benefit from talking through issues before acting them out. Ask questions when uncertain about someones intentions. Its better to know the truth than guess based on your own insecurities. Jack Kornfield wrote, Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion.