Become More Emotionally Available Using These 5 Self-Growth Practices

Have you ever felt confused or overwhelmed or wondered how a friend or partner feels? Maybe you've gotten to the point in a relationship where you aren't moving forward. Perhaps the relationship has plateaued. When this happens, it is possible one or both of you are emotionally unavailable.

Relationships, although very rewarding, can also be challenging at times. Both romantic and platonic relationships require an emotional investment, and sometimes, one gives more than the other.

When we shut down or feel blocked emotionally, we are often acting from our wounded selves, the part of us that has been hurt in the past. In doing decade-long research on the psychology of human behavior for my books and in witnessing clients in my life coaching practice, I discovered a pattern.

Many of us shut down emotionally to protect ourselves and prevent future hurt. But this keeps out what we want most—love, connection, intimacy—as we stay stuck in the cycle of protection.

In order to grow closer to others and improve our relationships, we can practice self-awareness through personal growth tools.

In my book Return to You: 11 Spiritual Lessons for Unshakable Inner Peace, I share the practice of improving relationships through self-awareness.

If we don't understand ourselves fully, we may project out onto others. When we look at others' actions as a mirror, we can discover what their behavior tells us about us. The energetic mirror is a practice that can remind us that our outside world is a reflection of our internal state. As A Course in Miracles states, we attract to us what we are.

Learn how to build intimacy by sharing your true self. That means that as trust sets in, you increasingly share from your true emotional self.

Look at your values first and see how those around you reflect or deflect those. Start by revising your values so you can operate from a place of balance. We only accept the love we think we deserve. So, rewrite your values and create new rules for yourself.

Feedback helps people become better at controlling negative behaviors. When asking for feedback, be approachable and accountable.

Conversations help you connect deeper to others, and expressing yourself vulnerably while inviting feedback could improve your connections as it gives people a chance to express themselves and convey any roadblocks or areas of friction.

A beautiful unfolding often happens when we share ourselves with others. Those around us follow our lead and also share their vulnerabilities.