Why do I push my partner away when things get close emotionally?

Mirabai knew something about distance—she loved Krishna fiercely, but that love was also a kind of reaching across an impossible gap. What you're describing often comes from an old lesson: that closeness means losing yourself, or that vulnerability will be punished. Your nervous system learned to create space as safety. The pushing away isn't failure; it's a protective gesture that once made sense. But here's what Mirabai discovered through her devotion: real love doesn't ask you to disappear. It asks you to stay present even when it's uncomfortable. Start noticing the exact moment you feel the urge to retreat—is it after tenderness? After being seen? That moment is information, not a character flaw. You might try staying just one breath longer in closeness before pulling back. Not forcing yourself to change, but gently interrupting the automatic pattern. Your partner can't meet you if you're always in flight. And you can't know what sustained intimacy feels like until you let yourself stay.