--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I built this shield around my heart. I…" description: "\"I built this shield around my heart. I didn't feel like falling apart. I closed my eyes and count to ten. I want go back to the days when I didn't pret..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/francine-chiar-10122_being-broken_i-built-this-shield-around-my-heart-i-di_2677284.jpg" --- # I built this shield around my heart. I didn't feel like… ![“I built this shield around my heart. I didn't feel like falling apart. I closed my eyes and count to ten. I want go back to the days when I didn't pretend. I miss my smile. I missed being happy every once in awhile.” quote by Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/francine-chiar-10122_being-broken_i-built-this-shield-around-my-heart-i-di_2677284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/francine-chiar-10122_being-broken_i-built-this-shield-around-my-heart-i-di_2677284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/francine-chiar-10122_being-broken_i-built-this-shield-around-my-heart-i-di_2677284.jpg) > “I built this shield around my heart. I didn't feel like falling apart. I closed my eyes and count to ten. I want go back to the days when I didn't pretend. I miss my smile. I missed being happy every once in awhile.” [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Building emotional walls protects against pain but also hides joy, leading to longing for genuine happiness. **In simple terms:** Emotional shields block both hurt and joy. Key Takeaway Allow vulnerability to reconnect with happiness. Themes mental health vulnerability loneliness Mood melancholic hopeful Type reflective personal When to use this quote - journaling - therapy - mindfulness practice - reconnecting with friends Key Concepts selfcare emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What would you need to feel safe opening up? - How can you practice small acts of vulnerability? A Different Perspective Walls can become habit; fear of exposure may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-broken/) [Being depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-depressed/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) ## Related quotes > [They were gone and I missed them but even so I was very happy. For the rest of my life no matter where on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/they-were-gone-and-i-missed-them-but-even-so-i-was-very-happy-for-the/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Behind my smile is a hurting heart. Behind my laugh, I'm falling apart. Behind my smile, is tears at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/behind-my-smile-is-a-hurting-heart-behind-my-laugh-i-m-falling-apart/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I live through it everyday. The ache and pain never quite feel the same. I hate feeling depressed, like there's no healing left. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/i-live-through-it-everyday-the-ache-and-pain-never-quite-feel-the/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) > [“I missed talking to you, and playing with you, and touching you, and seeing you smile. I missed just … sitting next to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-ferrera/i-missed-talking-to-you-and-playing-with-you-and-touching-you-and/) [Mila Ferrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-ferrera/) > [I guess you'll never see this. But what can I say. I just need to imagine that I'm going to show you this. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-guess-you-ll-never-see-this-but-what-can-i-say-i-just-need-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you know you don't deserve the person you are in love with, it hurts... A lot..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-hurst/when-you-know-you-don-t-deserve-the-person-you-are-in-love-with-it/) [Emily Hurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-hurst/) > [Depression is a world, depression leaves you lost, depression drops you into a never ending blackhole, you want to get help, but you can't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/depression-is-a-world-depression-leaves-you-lost-depression-drops-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How do you break what has already been broken? 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People will hurt you but you cant use it as an excuse to hurt someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bad-things-are-always-going-to-happen-in-life-people-will-hurt-you-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyday is a struggle and everyday is just another battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyday-is-a-struggle-and-everyday-is-just-another-battle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Francine Chiar > [The thought of you makes me sick. I can't even bare to begin. I need to remember how it feels to be loved again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/the-thought-of-you-makes-me-sick-i-can-t-even-bare-to-begin-i-need-to/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) > [The more you care for others, instead of just focusing on you, the less cruddy your life will seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/the-more-you-care-for-others-instead-of-just-focusing-on-you-the-less/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) > [Not being able to fit in, or not being good enough feels like a roller-coaster. You're running free and off the track, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/not-being-able-to-fit-in-or-not-being-good-enough-feels-like-a-roller/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) > [A relationship that starts with a lie, ends with a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/a-relationship-that-starts-with-a-lie-ends-with-a-lie/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) > [Fall for someone who makes you feel great. Not the one who's the reason why your heart breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/fall-for-someone-who-makes-you-feel-great-not-the-one-who-s-the/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) > [I told you that I love you, but then you told me you love me too. 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I don't even know if I am me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/i-m-not-the-girl-i-want-to-be-i-don-t-even-know-if-i-am-me/) [Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) [Explore all 67 Francine Chiar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/) ## More Being broken quotes > [Guys this is true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/guys-this-is-true/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) > [I was beautiful the day we met, But now I'm not so sure. Awkward and alone, you don't make me feel sexy anymore. 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We must have had something real strong, Im tossing and turning all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-feel-right-when-youre-gone-away-we-must-have-had-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take a step back, and let you go. 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Beautifully strange ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/im-just-gonna-hide-another-face-in-your-perfect-world-quiet-as-a/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-believe-lies-so-you-eventually-learn-to-trust-no-one-but-yourself/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) [Browse all 1,008 Being broken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-broken/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I built this shield around my heart. I didn't feel like falling apart. I closed my eyes and count to ten. I want go back to the days when I didn't pretend. I miss my smile. 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