The difference between someone saying you are welcome and the feeling of being welcome can be profound. You can feel a welcome the way that some people say “I’m open.” It usually means the opposite.
I find that open people do not claim to be open. And non-open people rarely make you feel like you could talk to them about your concerns when they say “I’m open to your concerns.”
Real openness is felt and needs no words. Likewise a real and genuine welcome.
The Hamlet Project 