Just scroll through any of your social media timelines and you’re bound to see a number of memes devaluing love and trust while praising cold-heartedness and solidarity. The best one I have seen yet is one that goes “The ‘y’ in ‘your girl’ is silent.” While these quotes that circulate may be hilarious on the surface, they possess an undertone of a lack of trust and love. We must not let such thoughts circulate in our minds and here’s why.

It is probably not a stretch from the truth to say that everyone has faced heartbreak before. Everyone has suffered the sting of a breakup, betrayal, rejection, or simply a disappointment of some kind in relation to another person. These things are normal, and yes, some people go through higher degrees of emotional pain than others, but, to an extent, we all can relate to such emotional pain. It is our response to this kind of hurt which is actually important.

The normal reaction after facing heartbreak or betrayal is to block off your heart in defense, to become cold and untrusting. After my first heartbreak in high school, I initially told myself that I would never again give my heart to anyone. I tried to completely cut myself off from love and emotions because I had genuinely loved and got wounded in return. However, this approach is the wrong approach. It works for a short time, but you eventually get tired of trying to be “savage” as society calls it, as our hearts were made to yearn for love in the truest sense, whether it be a friendship, soon-to-be relationship, steady relationship or marriage.

Having a loving, trusting heart is definitely a risk you take for obvious reasons—there are some who jump at any chance to take advantage of a person with that kind of heart. This is not to say people must throw all precaution out the door, but if you happen to become wounded by love (as you will, if you have not already—no point in sugar-coating it), you must be willing to brush yourself off, get on your feet and try all over again. Give other people a chance, because, as cliché as it sounds, it is certainly true that not all guys are the same and not all girls are the same.

Reach out for love, allow yourself to be loved and pass on that love and encouragement to others. Trust people and give them the benefit of the doubt until they give you a solid reason not to. Forgive others, and move on from past hurts that hold you back from enjoying a potentially fulfilling life with another person. Don’t be afraid to love.

Love is a longing that is inside of each of us, that must be satisfied in order for us to be healthy, happy beings. This does not only entail being-in-an-intimate-relationship-with-a-soul-mate type love, but simply having a heart of love that gives to others and that reaps the benefits of giving of itself over and over again.

Remember, love will always prevail in the end.