If you're able to break through our defenses, guarded women can make excellent girlfriends. However, due to past experiences, we tend to be cautious when it comes to letting men into our lives. It takes time and effort for us to trust someone and open up to them, but if they demonstrate their worthiness, we will give them our all. Naturally, this journey towards opening up can be accompanied by various thoughts and emotions.

1. "Who's he? He's cute…"

When a high-quality man finally comes into our lives, guarded women find ourselves intensely drawn to him. Normally, any attractive man would trigger our defenses, but this one is an exception. There's something about him that sets him apart, and we believe that he's worth getting to know better. As a result, we feel compelled to strike up a conversation with him.

2. "He's probably a player"

Guarded women tend to have a pattern of liking the wrong men, so when we start to develop feelings for a new guy, we often jump to the conclusion that he's just like the others who have hurt us in the past. Our negative experiences with love and relationships have made us wary, and it's almost second nature for us to assume the worst about a guy we're attracted to.

3. "Okay, he actually seems nice"

Once we make the decision to give this particular guy a chance, we may discover that he is involved in charitable work, has a close relationship with his mother, and has experienced his own emotional struggles. As a result, our initial perception of him as just another jerk begins to fade away.

4. "Do I actually like this guy?"

Once we come to terms with the fact that we are capable of having feelings for a guy again, we may find ourselves in a state of inner conflict. Becoming attached to someone is not something that we are accustomed to, and we may not feel entirely equipped to handle it unless the emotions are genuine. Therefore, when we are drawn to a particular guy, and we can't seem to shake off the attraction, we tend to debate with ourselves to ensure that we are truly certain of our feelings.

5. "Okay, we can be friends but that's it"

Rather than rushing into a romantic relationship with the men we are interested in, guarded women often choose to opt for a friendship. We believe that maintaining a platonic relationship with him will cause less emotional harm than taking the risk of pursuing a romantic relationship. It's easier to convince ourselves that being friends is better than having nothing at all, especially when we are fearful, but still want him to be a part of our life.

6. "Fine, I'll go on one date with him"

After suppressing our emotions for as long as we can, guarded women eventually come to terms with the fact that we have feelings for the guy. We then permit ourselves to go on at least one date with him, just to test the waters and see how things progress. Deep down, we understand that there is a good possibility that both he and the relationship could be worth the risk.

7. "That was way too much fun"

When we can no longer ignore our feelings, and the first date turns out to be the best date we've ever had, guarded women may experience a sense of panic. We may be content and happy on our own, but the emotions we feel towards the new guy are unlike any we've ever experienced before. This makes us wonder if we are getting too emotionally invested too quickly, and if it's worth the risk of getting hurt again.

8. "I'd better not get involved"

Guarded women often have fulfilling lives, with successful careers and meaningful friendships. Hence, when we finally let ourselves become involved with someone we are truly interested in, we approach the situation with reservations. After being hurt in the past, we are extremely cautious about letting our guard down and becoming emotionally invested in another person. This fear of getting hurt again may lead us to avoid relationships altogether as a way of protecting ourselves.

9. "I like him too much to not date him"

Once our new romantic interest has demonstrated that he is a genuinely good person, and we are convinced that this relationship will not end the same way our past ones have, we may finally allow ourselves to give into our emotions. However, being guarded, we proceed with caution and take things slowly as we venture into relationship territory. Although we are hesitant to let our guard down completely, we also recognize the potential for something great and do not want to miss out on it.

10. "I'd better take it slow"

Guarded women always take a slow and steady approach when entering into relationships. We understand the importance of not getting emotionally invested too quickly and therefore, take our time getting to know the person. It's essential for us to learn as much as we can about this special man before falling in love, as we have been hurt before, and we always want to protect our hearts from experiencing another heartbreak.

11. "I'm falling in love with him"

When we finally begin to fall in love, it hits us hard, like a ton of bricks. As guarded women, we don't often experience such strong emotions, so when we do, it feels incredibly real and intense. Our newfound love becomes an essential part of our lives, and we cannot imagine life without them.

12. "I'll let him break down my walls"

Once we let love in again, as guarded women, we are willing to let the man we truly care about break down our walls. We desire him to know us for who we genuinely are and don't want any regrets for being too cautious. We took every precaution to ensure that we didn't let another player enter our hearts, and we are willing to allow this man to get to know us fully.