We are taught to be good little girls and boys. Seen and not heard. Don't rock the boat. Placate. Nurture. Soothe. Accept. Shape ourselves to fit others' needs. Figuratively and literally (thanks to media). Bending, stretching, compromising...all of this can end up making us lose our balance. We are bombarded with messages that end up separating us from our own truth. Boundaries are limits. Standards. And they ultimately have to do with how we respect ourselves and out own needs. Boundaries that are set with thought, heart and integrity can create healthier relationships with others but also, most importantly, with ourselves.
