Make Yourself Scarce

There is a delicate balance between being there for people and being there just long enough to add value — without losing yours in the process. As you grow closer to someone, a point of comfort arrives where you want to express more of yourself. You reach a certain ease with them that strips away your inhibitions. And if that inner side turns out to be too much, the risk of being left alone becomes very real. So no matter how close you get, the prudent approach is always to open up in measured doses. You maintain a deliberate distance. You reveal just enough that they still want to know more. You remain available just enough that they notice your absence. This may not sound authentic, but people aren't always ready to receive someone for who they truly are. Say you begin with a reserved personality — you say the right things, you joke at the right moment, and people warm to you. So you keep revealing more. But you also need to remind yourself that they were drawn to a version you…