I am a builder and a creator who produces complex things, yet I find interaction with people challenging. Especially with those closest to me. I wonder if I keep people at a distance because of a defense mechanism or simply because my nature is skeptical and relies on critical thinking with measured trust. I sometimes fear I am lying to myself or that these are deep flaws.

But consider this. These are not necessarily flaws. They are the specifications of a good engineer. We are trained to identify failure modes and question requirements. We are paid to be skeptical.

The struggle comes when we leave that operating system running at home. We apply critical thinking to personal conversations and treat vulnerability like a system risk. You do not need to delete this part of yourself. You simply need to learn to toggle the settings. The same skills that build defenses can be used to construct connection.

You are a builder. You can choose to build a bridge instead of a wall.