There is a quiet crisis beneath our language of self care. It is not burnout or introversion, but a growing intolerance for the natural friction that comes with being human in relationship. In a culture that rewards emotional avoidance and curated comfort, we are losing the skills that build intimacy, resilience, and belonging.

True connection requires the capacity to stay present inside discomfort without disappearing. The ache so many people feel today is not personal failure. It is a nervous system longing for real contact, shared repair, and the aliveness that only friction can bring.