– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

[Music]

Hello and welcome back to the English

Dialogue Podcast.

I'm Mike.

>> And I'm Emma. Today we're diving into a

deeply personal and often sensitive

topic. Are you difficult to love?

>> It's a question many of us might have

asked ourselves at some point. Whether

in friendships, romantic relationships,

or even family dynamics, feeling like

you might be hard to love can be really

challenging.

Absolutely. It's important to explore

this because understanding ourselves

better can lead to healthier and more

fulfilling relationships.

So, let's break it down. What does it

mean to be difficult to love?

>> Great question. Being difficult to love

often stems from our own insecurities,

past experiences, and the ways we

interact with others. It might mean that

we struggle to connect, communicate, or

show vulnerability.

Exactly. It's not necessarily about

being inherently unlovable, but rather

about the barriers we might have built

that make it harder for others to

connect with us. Let's explore some

common reasons why someone might feel

this way.

>> One major factor is low self-esteem.

When you don't value yourself, it's hard

to believe that others could genuinely

love and appreciate you. This can create

a self-fulfilling prophecy where you

push people away because you fear

rejection.

Imagine constantly telling yourself,

"I'm not worthy of love or no one will

ever truly understand me." These

thoughts can lead to behaviors like

avoiding intimacy, being overly critical

of others, or not expressing your true

feelings. It's a protective mechanism,

but it also makes it difficult for

meaningful connections to form.

>> Another reason might be past trauma or

negative experiences in relationships.

If you've been hurt before, you might

develop trust issues or fear getting

close to someone again. This can make

you seem distant or guarded.

>> Yes. And it's important to acknowledge

that healing from those experiences

takes time. Without addressing the

underlying pain, it's easy to carry

those fears into new relationships,

inadvertently making it harder for

others to get close to you.

>> So, how can someone address these

feelings and work towards being more

open to love? It starts with

self-awareness and self-compassion.

Absolutely. Recognizing and accepting

your own worth is the first step. This

might involve therapy, journaling, or

simply taking time to reflect on your

strengths and positive qualities. It's

about shifting your mindset from

self-criticism to self-love.

>> Another key aspect is improving

communication skills. Being able to

express your needs, fears, and emotions

clearly can help others understand you

better and create stronger connections.

>> Yes. And it also involves active

listening. Showing genuine interest in

others and being present in

conversations fosters mutual respect and

understanding. Making relationships more

balanced and fulfilling.

>> Let's also talk about vulnerability. It

might sound scary, but allowing yourself

to be vulnerable can actually strengthen

relationships.

It shows others that you trust them and

are willing to open up.

Think about sharing a personal story or

expressing your true feelings about

something. It might feel uncomfortable

at first, but it invites others to

connect with you on a deeper level.

Vulnerability can lead to greater

intimacy and trust, which are essential

for any loving relationship.

That's a powerful point. Now, let's

address some common misconceptions.

Sometimes people think that being

assertive or setting boundaries makes

them difficult to love. But in reality,

it's about healthy self-respect.

>> Exactly.

Setting boundaries is not about pushing

people away. It's about creating a safe

and respectful space for yourself and

others. It helps prevent resentment and

ensures that relationships are based on

mutual respect and understanding.

>> Another misconception is that needing

space or alone time means you're

difficult to love, but everyone needs

personal time to recharge and reflect.

It's a normal part of maintaining a

healthy relationship.

>> Yes, balance is crucial. It's about

finding the right mix between

togetherness and independence.

Respecting each other's needs for space

can actually strengthen the bond you

share.

>> So to summarize, if you're feeling like

you might be difficult to love, it's

important to fir recognize your own

worth and practice self-love.

SAC O N D address trauma or negative

experiences that affect your current

relationships.

T h iir d express your feelings clearly

and listen actively to others. F o rth

allow yourself to be open and honest

with those you care about. Fifth create

respectful and supportive relationship

dynamics.

sixth respect both your own and others

needs for personal time.

>> Those are excellent points Mike. Another

thing to consider is the role of

forgiveness both towards yourself and

others. Holding on to grudges or

self-lame can create emotional barriers

that make it harder to connect with

others.

>> Absolutely. Forgiving yourself for past

mistakes allows you to move forward

without carrying the weight of guilt or

shame. Similarly, forgiving others for

their shortcomings fosters a more

compassionate and understanding

relationship. And let's not forget the

importance of continuous personal

growth. Engaging in activities that

promote your well-being, such as

reading, exercising, or pursuing

hobbies, can enhance your self-worth and

make you more interesting and engaging

to others.

That's a great addition, Emma. Personal

growth not only benefits you but also

enriches your relationships by bringing

new perspectives and energy into your

interactions.

Imagine dedicating time each day to

something that makes you happy and

fulfilled. Whether it's a creative

hobby, physical activity, or learning

something new, these positive

experiences contribute to a healthier

self-image and make you more attractive

and enjoyable to be around.

This kind of forgiveness breaks the

cycle of self-criticism.

It allows you to say, "I'm doing the

best I can with what I know now."

>> Exactly. You make room for compassion.

And with compassion, you're more likely

to improve naturally rather than forcing

yourself through blame and shame.

>> Another aspect, forgiving your younger

self. Many of us cringe at who we once

were naive, reckless, or too afraid to

act.

>> But that younger you made choices with

the knowledge and experience they had at

the time. Forgiving them respects the

journey you've traveled.

>> By recognizing that growth is a process,

you allow yourself to be proud of how

far you've come instead of ashamed of

where you started.

It's a quiet internal embrace of all

you've been and all you can become.

>> And what about forgiving societal

influences, expectations, pressures, and

cultural norms that shaped our fears and

insecurities?

>> That's another form of release. We can

recognize that society isn't always

kind, fair, or supportive. Forgiving it

means not letting it dictate our worth.

It allows us to step beyond inherited

beliefs and claim our own values, no

longer resenting the world for

misleading us.

>> Yes. And this forgiveness can help us

become agents of change rather than

prisoners of resentment.

>> Now, all this sounds meaningful, but how

do we actually practice forgiveness?

>> One way is through acknowledging your

feelings honestly. Write them down.

Speak them aloud. Recognize the hurt,

the anger, the disappointment.

>> Then consider the humanity of whoever

hurt you, including yourself. Understand

that people act from their own wounds,

fears, and misunderstandings.

>> Visualize letting go of the anger. Some

people imagine it as a heavy stone they

set down. Others write a letter they

never send. The act is symbolic but

powerful.

>> Patience is key. Forgiveness often takes

time. You don't wake up one day suddenly

free of all resentment. It's a process.

>> And during that process, you might feel

resistance. That's normal. Sometimes

anger feels safer than letting go

because it keeps us vigilant.

>> But over time, as we soften, we realize

that holding on to that anger is a heavy

burden. Life is lighter without it.

Also, forgiveness doesn't have to mean

forgetting. You can remember what

happened and learn from it without

reliving the pain.

>> It's about integrating the lesson into

your life, not being chained to the

hurt.

>> This integration can deepen your

empathy. When you know how hard

forgiveness is, you respect the courage

it takes to let go.

>> And ironically, forgiveness can make you

stronger. It's not weak to forgive. It's

an act of courage and emotional

maturity.

>> Think of forgiveness as clearing clutter

from your home. Your mind and heart are

like rooms filled with old boxes, anger,

regret, disappointment.

If you never forgive, you never clear

those boxes and they take up space where

joy and connection could thrive. By

forgiving, you're making room. room for

new relationships, deeper creativity,

laughter, hope. It's about creating a

livable space inside yourself. After

all, how can you truly live if you're

constantly tripping over old

resentments?

>> As we've said, forgiveness isn't about

condoning harmful behavior. It's about

refusing to let that harm define you

anymore.

>> Exactly.

We all deserve to live without the

weight of old wounds dragging us down.

>> The journey might start small. Maybe you

forgive yourself for a minor mistake

today. Then over time you tackle bigger

hurts.

>> Or you begin by acknowledging that you

are ready or at least willing to

consider forgiveness.

That's a seed that can grow.

>> Even a small shift in attitude can

loosen the chains of resentment. And as

you practice, you realize that

forgiveness can become a way of life, a

habit of the heart,

>> a habit that frees you to be more

present, more kind, more engaged with

the world.

>> So if you've been carrying hurts,

consider what it would feel like to set

them down.

>> Imagine stepping into your future

without that heavy load. Feel that

lightness.

>> That's what forgiveness can bring. the

freedom to live not in spite of what

happened but beyond it.

>> Well said, Emma. I think that's a good

place to close today's episode.

>> Thanks for joining us, everyone. We hope

this conversation inspires you to

explore forgiveness in your own life.

>> Take care. Be gentle with yourselves and

we'll see you next time on the English

Dialogue podcast.

[Music]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - to feel affection for someone
difficult /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/ A2	adjective - hard to do or deal with
relationship /rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/ A2	noun - the way two or more people behave towards each other
insecure /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊər/ B1	adjective - not confident or sure about yourself
experience /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ A2	noun - knowledge or skill from doing or seeing things
self-esteem /ˌselfɪˈstiːm/ B2	noun - confidence in your own worth or abilities
trauma /ˈtrɔːmə/ B2	noun - severe emotional shock or pain
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe that someone is good and honest noun - firm belief in the reliability of someone or something
communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/ A2	verb - to exchange information or feelings
vulnerability /ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti/ B2	noun - the state of being open to attack or hurt
boundary /ˈbaʊndəri/ B1	noun - a line that marks the limit of something
forgiveness /fərˈɡɪvnɪs/ B2	noun - the act of forgiving someone
worth /wɜːrθ/ A2	noun - the value of something or someone
connect /kəˈnekt/ A2	verb - to join or link together
heal /hiːl/ B1	verb - to become healthy again
express /ɪkˈspres/ A2	verb - to show or say what you feel
listen /ˈlɪsn/ A1	verb - to give attention to sound
share /ʃɛr/ A1	verb - to have or use something with others