Bruce Dougherty explains boundaries as a fence around your house with a gate you control. Without one, strangers wander in, trample your space, and take your things. Clear boundaries shape whether your relationships drain or sustain you.
Healthy boundaries, or maybe a lack of healthy boundaries. Do you realize how much they shape your life and relationships? Think of it this way: your life is like a house with a yard surrounded by this beautiful sturdy fence with a large gate that you control. The people you allow close are the ones you let through the gate. But imagine having no fence at all. People just wander in. They Cut across the lawn, trample the flowers, make a mess, even take things that belong to you. And you're left frustrated and drained, wondering why people keep disrespecting you.
