Taylor Swift Keeps Her Emotions in Check as She Builds Up ‘Thick Skin’

Taylor Swift, an incredible young songwriter who continually wears her heart on her sleeve, is a very confident girl, yet inside she struggles to belong and to be accepted just like anyone else. "At no point in this process did I grow a thick skin," the country star says, explaining that she finds it hard to ignore insults aimed at her. "I'm not stronger than anybody else. I feel everything that happens to me, whether it's a mean comment from a friend or a stranger."

Swift has long been known for the expressive and emotional subject matters that most of her songs employ, and she says, "I don't think that being a strong person is about ignoring your emotions and fighting your feelings. Putting on a brave face doesn't mean you're a brave person." She adds, "That's why everybody in my life knows everything that I'm going through. I can't hide anything from them. People need to realize that being open isn't the same as being weak."

When asked if she ever has emotional outbursts, the country star admits, "I've learned that I respect people less when they scream and yell. So when I'm mad, I try to keep the volume level of my voice really even."

The singer has a lot of wisdom for someone of her age, and a heap of maturity to go along with it. She reflects, "It's more impressive if you can remain calm when you're mad than if you lose control. I just hate the idea of taking my emotions out on other people. You know what I mean?"

The 'Back to December' singer is enjoying some brief downtime in Los Angeles and Nashville right now from her Speak Now Tour. She leaves in early March for shows in Belgium, Holland, Norway, Germany, Italy, France and more. You can see the complete tour schedule at her official site.