That which has not been exposed cannot be refined.

Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. Even if, by asking, you expose yourself somehow. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. If you want it, it's worth risking the rejection. Don't be afraid of wicked people that would rub your face in it either. If you're scared of them, you're scared of most people. To avoid being vulnerable, is to avoid being yourself. 
That which has not been exposed cannot be refined.