A boundary is not a wall — it's a door with a handle on the inside. It says: "This is what I need to stay present in this relationship." It is an act of care for the relationship, not a rejection of the person.
The difference between a boundary and a punishment is intention. A boundary protects the relationship. A punishment retaliates against it. The S step in LOVES — Safeguard — gives you the language to set boundaries with love.
Before you keep reading — is there a boundary you've been needing to set? What have you been afraid it would cost you?
Built exactly for this question:
Before you move on — what's one thing that's true for you right now?
"You are not protecting yourself FROM them. You are protecting the relationship FOR both of you. That is what a boundary does."
Every question, eventually, leads here.
Read the Water-Bearer's Journey →