Deep, soulful tenderness is born not so much as a sudden feeling, but rather as a multifaceted process in which life, pain, joy, and the desire to keep the heart open intermingle.

Awakening the Vulnerable Heart

Deep, soulful tenderness is born not so much as a sudden feeling, but rather as a multifaceted process in which life, pain, joy, and the desire to keep the heart open intermingle. This tenderness arises from the ability to accept and feel the full spectrum of human experiences while remaining sensitive and receptive.

For instance, one text describes this tenderness as an all-encompassing feeling that permeates everything—thoughts, sensations, aspirations—transforming love into a means to touch immortality. It states:
"Kindness and tenderness are life for me, they are immortality, they are eternity. Without kindness and tenderness, life is hell. Only by feeling the kindness of the All-Kind and the tenderness of the All-Tender am I completely in paradise. If the coarseness of human behavior overwhelms me, oh! That is when hell descends with all its horrors."
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At the same time, the emergence of tenderness is linked to inner work on oneself. One reflection indicates that it is precisely through deep self-compassion—even initially through self-pity—that the path to genuine care and sensitivity begins, allowing one to discover qualities previously hidden behind pain or missed opportunities:
"Self-pity is the beginning of deep self-care. Through it I can come to uncover within myself a multitude of qualities that awaited this immersion in the quest for salvation, in lost desires, and in regrets over a wrong choice."
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Another important aspect is the heart’s ability to remain open despite the inevitable pain of communication and disconnection. Preserving a living, "vulnerable" heart that is not afraid to experience both joy and pain allows it to grow from early life into something deeper and more sensitive:
"The first theme is that when the mind weakens, the flesh ages, and the will is no longer able to possess the entire being of a person, ultimately all that remains is the living heart. And this living heart must be nurtured from very early years; one must ensure that the heart remains responsive..."
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Equally important is the delicate, almost poetic atmosphere in which a quiet sadness or melancholy opens the door to tenderness. A light yet profoundly powerful emotional response, as described in one work, demonstrates how nature and moments of solitude can awaken within the soul the desire to open up:
"A quiet sadness is born in the heart... It tempts and teases—and does not let go... And immediately—there is a timidity like never before... What a careful touch, what a hospitable encounter, what a loving handling."
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Thus, deep soulful tenderness emerges in a person when they learn to preserve and cultivate their inner sensitivity, allowing the heart to remain vulnerable and open to both joy and pain. It is a process in which not only our relationships with others play an important role but also the ability to look within, accept one’s vulnerability, and through it, awaken the precious feeling of tenderness.

Supporting citation(s):
"Kindness and tenderness are life for me, they are immortality, they are eternity. Without kindness and tenderness, life is hell. Only by feeling the kindness of the All-Kind and the tenderness of the All-Tender am I completely in paradise. If the coarseness of human behavior overwhelms me, oh! That is when hell descends with all its horrors." (source: link txt)

"Self-pity is the beginning of deep self-care. Through it I can come to uncover within myself a multitude of qualities that awaited this immersion in the quest for salvation, in lost desires, and in regrets over a wrong choice." (source: link txt)

"The first theme is that when the mind weakens, the flesh ages, and the will is no longer able to possess the entire being of a person, ultimately all that remains is the living heart. And this living heart must be nurtured from very early years; one must ensure that the heart remains responsive..." (source: link txt)

"A quiet sadness is born in the heart... It tempts and teases—and does not let go... And immediately—there is a timidity like never before... What a careful touch, what a hospitable encounter, what a loving handling." (source: link txt)