Don’t stay single because you’re scared of letting down your walls. You can’t keep your guard up forever. You can’t push away everyone who tries to get close to you. You might feel like you’re protecting yourself by isolating yourself but you’re only making yourself feel lonelier. Once in a while, you need to take a risk and let other people into your world. Express your opinions to them. Speak your thoughts and desires aloud. You don’t have to hold back — but you don’t have to spill your whole heart at once either. You can move slowly. You can take things one step at a time.
Don’t stay single because you’re scared of losing your independence. You don’t have to act codependent once you’re in a committed relationship. You can have your own lives. You can have your own friends, your own hobbies, your own careers. You don’t have to spend every waking moment together. You don’t have to rely on your person to bring you happiness or a sense of peace. You can maintain your independence, even when you’re dating the love of your life. A relationship doesn’t mean you lose your freedom. It doesn’t mean you stop being you.
Don’t stay single because you’re scared of rejection. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone is going to give you a chance. Sometimes you’re going to get turned down — but that’s not an indication of your worth. It doesn’t mean you’re unlovable. It doesn’t mean you should give up hope of finding your happily ever after. It simply means you haven’t found the right person yet. Rejection might sting, but it will bring you closer to the person you’re meant to discover.
Don’t stay single because you’re scared of getting betrayed. Falling in love always comes with a risk — but if you’re with the right person, they aren’t going to put you through pain. They aren’t going to hurt you the way you’ve been hurt in the past. You need to learn to trust others, even though they’re imperfect. Even though they might lie to you. Even though they might cheat. Yes, you could get hurt, but sometimes love is worth that risk. Sometimes you need to push aside your fears and give someone a shot.
Don’t stay single because you’re scared of getting abandoned. The relationship might not last, but that doesn’t mean you wasted your time with that person. It doesn’t mean you never should have let them into your world. Some connections are temporary, but they are still meaningful. They are still worthwhile. You might learn something from them. You might grow while you’re with them. You might not regret them at all, even if they don’t linger for long.
Don’t stay single because you’re scared of falling in love. Because you’re scared of getting attached. Because you’re scared of something real. Even though there’s a chance everything could fall apart and you could end up heartbroken, there’s also a chance it works out. There’s a chance you stay with this person forever. 
