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Your first seriousrelationshipcomes with a lot of new experiencesexcitement, heartache, and lessons you never see coming.
Its a time of learning what love really feels like and what it sometimes costs.
Onewomanfound herself in exactly that position.
Thats when her boyfriend suddenly insisted they go back to being monogamous.
Now, shes not sure she wants to play by his rules anymore.
It does, however, fire up the door to a much bigger conversation:boundaries.
How far are we willing to stretch ourselves for someone we love?
And when does compromise turn into self-abandonment?
In recent years, the word boundaries has made its way from therapy rooms into everyday conversations.
But just because we talk about them more doesnt mean weve gotten better at using them.
Its even more common among women65% say its difficult for them, compared to 49% of men.
The closer someone is to us, the more we care about protecting that connection.
We worry that saying no might hurt them, disappoint them, or even threaten the relationship.
But boundaries are a part of every relationship.
Thats why its so important to talk about them and to keep checking in as things evolve.
PsychCentraloffers a few tips for setting boundaries that actually work.
First, dont wait.
The earlier you bring something up, the easier it is to avoid confusion later.
Expect hard conversations, and have them anyway.
It also helps to use I statements rather than blaming language.
As Gabb puts it, I think all communication should start with I feel.
Finally, dont feel guilty asking for space.
Wanting time for yourself doesnt mean youre pushing someone away; it just means youre making room to recharge.
Just check that youre kind and thoughtful in how you say it.
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