Day Nineteen: A little distance, please.
Setting boundaries isn’t about being cold or distant or difficult. It’s about being clear. It’s about telling the truth, first to ourselves, then to the people around us.
It’s saying: This is what I can give without losing myself. This is what I need to stay grounded. This is what’s okay with me, and this is what’s not.
You don’t have to build a wall. You just need a gate.
One you can open and close with intention. You get to decide who comes in and what stays out.
Boundaries aren’t about control. Nope. They’re about taking responsibility.
For your own energy, your own peace, your own well-being.
Me? I’ve learned this the hard way. I’ve said yes when I meant no. I’ve smiled through gritted teeth. I’ve stretched myself thin to avoid disappointing someone else.
And, every time I did, I disappeared a little. That’s not love.
We can do better.
We can love people without betraying ourselves. We can stay soft without staying silent. We can care deeply and still say “that doesn’t work for me.”
That’s not rejection. That’s maturity. That’s what healthy relationships are built on.
You don’t owe anyone access just because they expect it. Your time, your energy, your heart, those are sacred. So, protect them accordingly.
And, when you do, you don’t just create space for yourself, you give others permission to do the same.
So stop apologizing for needing space.
Start practicing honesty that doesn’t come with guilt.
You’re not selfish. You’re not broken.
You’re waking up to what it means to live and love with your whole self intact.
Mantra \ Prayer:
Give me wisdom on who and what to let in.
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Steve Knox | Carmel, CA