Why do I feel disconnected from people I love even when we're together?

Sometimes we're physically present but emotionally somewhere else — replaying old hurt, waiting for rejection, performing the role of who we think we should be. Mirabai understood this ache. She loved God with her whole being, but her society told her that kind of love was impossible, improper, too much. She felt alone in her devotion even when surrounded. Disconnection often happens when we stop listening — to ourselves first, then to the other person. We hear their words but not their voice. We see their face but not their longing. And they sense the gap. Try this: the next time you're together, notice one small thing you actually see about them. Not what you expect to see — what you actually see. A worry line. A hesitation. A way they hold their coffee. Listen for what's underneath their small talk. People broadcast their inner world constantly; we just stop tuning in. The disconnection isn't always about them. Sometimes it's asking you to pay attention to your own heart first. What are you protecting against? Once you know, presence becomes possible.