In any relationship whether it be friendship or a potential partnership? I feel like most individuals put up a guard to protect themselves from being hurt and it is a natural instinct...But its clearly a faulty practice since your motives are to let another person in to get to know them but you're keeping them at arms length to prevent potential harm... Its so simple but I like most other people do this unconsciously and I know it leads to sabotaging your objective which is to let others in...I'm fully aware this sort of self-sabotage can prevent from lessons and personal growth and I have my ways to monitor it. I'm just curious of what others typically do?