Joyce Ann Isidro
These days, if you’re always online, you probably know that it’s a trend to say “IDGAF.” It’s when people go out of their way to show that they don’t give a f**k.
But what if you actually do give a f**k? Well, you probably shouldn’t show it, because that’s embarrassing.
But it shouldn’t have to be.
Caring deeply and being vulnerable doesn’t mean you’re giving up power—you’re owning up to it.
And if you’re a person who feels things deeply, you can probably relate to these 11 traits:
1) You go out of your way to be kind
It’s easy to be nice, for sure, but let’s face it: it’s so hard to be kind.
Yes, you can smile and wave at your enemies when you stumble upon them in the street, but are you kind enough to forgive them?
That’s why being kind is a constant choice that you have to make.
You think: it’s easier to forgive than to hold a grudge, even if being kind enough to forgive takes a lot of your energy.
You don’t have to choose it, but because you can’t help but care deeply, you always do.
2) You have a strong intuition
As a deeply caring person, it’s easy for you to anticipate the needs of others, even those you barely know.
For instance, your friends don’t have to tell you what they’re feeling for you to see it—you just know.
And it probably makes you wonder if it’s actually magic. Or telepathy. Or some otherworldly thing that you don’t understand.
And I’m here to tell you that that otherworldly thing is called intuition, and deeply caring people have it really strong.
That’s because you’re deeply attuned to other people’s feelings and needs that you don’t have to ask most of the time—it’s just intuitive, so it comes very naturally.
3) You try to be “strong” for other people’s sake
Have you ever delayed opening up to your friends because you know they’re going through some serious stuff, and you don’t want to be a burden?
Well, you’re probably a deeply caring person.
You try to be a strong, stable friend because it’s what your friends need. You try to be their rock when they’re weak.
But who catches you when you’re the one falling?
You need to learn to be vulnerable to your friends, too. They would probably appreciate it if you tell them what you need.
Remember: you’re not needy for having needs. You’re simply human.
4) You’re compassionate
Listening is more difficult than it seems.
Most people listen to respond, but as a deeply caring person, you listen to understand.
When others tell you their past, the history behind their trauma, your heart aches for them. You can’t believe someone so good, so wonderful can go through something so traumatic.
And because of how deeply attuned you are to their emotions, it’s easier to open up to you.
Being vulnerable isn’t a burden when you’re the one they’re opening themselves up to—and knowing that you ease their burden means you try your best to be there for everyone.
5) You try to be there for everyone
Life is hard, for sure. They say no man is an island, and that’s actually quite accurate. None of us can live on our own, no matter how much we insist on it.
That’s why you try to be there for everyone as much as you can.
You never hesitate to give a friend a helping hand.
You lend money to your family when they need it, even when they don’t return it sometimes.
You give favors without expecting anything in return.
But in your quest to help everyone, remember that you need to help yourself, too.
Being selfless doesn’t have to mean losing yourself as you overextend your helping hand.
6) You’re selfless
Being selfless is a double-edged sword.
It’s a trait that’s commonly valued, but at the same time, when you don’t watch yourself, it can be truly damaging.
You put other people’s needs above your own because you truly, deeply care.
Your mindset is that it’s okay if you’re the one who suffers if it means your loved ones don’t have to go through it.
But are you sure that’s good for you?
Loving other people doesn’t have to be at the expense of your own well-being. How could you ever love someone right if you can’t even do the same for yourself?
7) You’re understanding
As people, we think we always need to be strong. Any show of emotion or vulnerability is a weakness.
But others don’t feel this way around you, and that’s because you’re a deeply caring person.
And as a deeply caring person, you’re always understanding. You don’t judge others when they open up to you, even if they show you the mistakes they’ve made in the past.
Even if others hurt you, your first instinct is not to lash out or get revenge—it’s to understand.
This instinct to always try to be understanding is mainly due to your high empathy.
8) You’re highly empathetic
Today, “I’m an empath” has become such a big buzzword that it often sounds meaningless when people say it.
But you, as a deeply caring person, don’t have to say that you’re an empath in order to show other people that you are.
You don’t show your empathy through words, but through actions.
When your loved ones hurt, you hurt just as much.
When they’re celebrating their successes, you genuinely enjoy seeing them happy instead of feeling envious of what they’ve achieved.
And even when people try to use your own empathy against you, you still don’t see it as a weakness, because empathy helps you forge meaningful connections with the right people.
9) You’re extremely patient
Have you ever been told that your extreme patience is admirable?
If the answer is yes, chances are that you’re a deeply caring person.
To care means to be patient, and that’s why you don’t force people to open up when they’re not ready.
You sit and wait patiently until they’ve gathered enough energy to open up to you.
But the question here is, are you patient with yourself, too?
You need to care about yourself as deeply as you care about other people, so be patient with yourself, too.
Don’t force growth, as it doesn’t happen overnight.
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t immediately learn from your mistakes.
As with everything, remember that it takes time.
10) You know how to apologize
“Sorry” is such a simple word, but why is it so hard to say?
For most people, it’s easier to watch their house burn down than to swallow your pride.
But because you’re a deeply caring person, you have no trouble lowering your pride if it puts out the fire and saves everyone from hurting.
So when you have problems with the people you love, you’re the first to say sorry. You’re the one who makes the first move, because you’re not embarrassed to admit you’re wrong.
Because for you, you’d rather lose the argument than lose the person you love.
11) You’re warm and welcoming
The world can often be cold and cruel—and you know this all too well.
That’s why, as a deeply caring person, you try to welcome everyone into your life with open arms.
People probably describe you as a joy to be around, because you truly are a ray of sunshine that brightens everything you touch.
It’s so easy to be around you because you’re kind and compassionate.
But even if none of the burden of this cold and cruel world is felt in your presence, it also means you unfortunately absorb the pain of others so they don’t feel it.
12) You love to love…
As a deeply caring person, you love to love. You’re always filled to the brim with love for the people around you, and you genuinely enjoy taking care of them.
You love giving gifts; without hesitation, you say “I love you,” and you mean it with your whole heart. You know very well how to express your love to the people around you.
And most importantly, you don’t see your capacity to love with your whole heart, and to go the extra mile in the name of love, as a weakness—you see it as a strength that not everyone can possess or handle.
13) …even if it means you hurt deeply
You love deeply, that’s for sure.
But you often wish loving deeply doesn’t have to mean you hurt deeply, too.
Because you care so much about others, that means you trust your loved ones wholeheartedly, and love them just as genuinely.
So when they betray your trust and waste the love you so willingly give them, it stings.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to love without the risk of getting hurt—you probably know that already.
So even with your history of getting hurt constantly, you still choose to love, because you love to love more than you’re afraid of getting hurt.
