This is what I'm always stuck inbetween. Being vulnerable or trying to deny it. It's true, all that you said above, how denying your  vulnerability is denying yourself and I completely agree. It's a great thing to allow yourself be vulnerable, but sometimes is just hard. Always trying your best, and caring soo much about everything, and then being disappointed, being let down and stuff like that are really really heart breaking. And I think it's some kind of self defense, you naturally never wanna feel like that again and you' re mad because you were vulnerable enough to let that feelings get to you.  So maybe, sometimes being vulnerable can cause you more pain than anything else..  I still believe it's a good thing though, it just can be really hard.