Taken Advantage of or Closed Off
General question for the forum regarding all interpersonal relationships. I'm a very open person. I wear my faults on my sleeve and I am very gracious with people. I'm full of sincere compliments. As a good listener I genuinely respond to people. I'm impressed by their successes, empathetic to their losses and aware of their weaknesses. I'm not threatened by other people's gifts and I'm never intimidated because myself worth doesn't revolve around my strengths. However, I have been royally screwed and betrayed in my past. Some folks I meet actually feel superior to me because I'm generous and kind to them without bragging about my own accomplishments.
People call me a "nice" guy, but I'm very assertive, argumentative and inquisitive with people. I'm generous when I have something and someone else doesn't. I'm not attempting to buy their affection, just help them out. I don't ask for anything and I don't judge them for needing something I have. Why do some folks burn me like that. I hate being told "people treat you how you allow them to treat you". I'm respectful to everyone I meet. I'm respectful to all of my oldest friends. I'm respectful to my family. Sure I fight with them all the time (I'm not perfect), but I don't take advantage of people. I'm just at this point in my life where I'm questioning my nature. Is this just the way of the world? Do we all get burned? Is it just a few that manipulate or use others? Everybody just chime in...