What Does It Mean to "Guard Your Heart"?

Many people use the phrase "guard your heart" when discussing relationships. Although it sounds like an old phrase, knowing how to protect yourself from emotional heartache is important. Guarding your heart is less about controlling your feelings and more about controlling your thoughts, because thoughts ultimately lead to actions.

Don't allow yourself to become a victim of your emotions. You may not be able to control the fact that you have developed feelings towards a person; however, you can control the amount of time you spend thinking about them. Likewise, you should not assume your feelings mean something. Relationships are not built on feelings, but on choices. Instead of seeing your feelings as a sign pointing to your future see them as a clue to understanding your own heart better.