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Boundaries

13 sections · 10 pts/section
Section 1 / 13

The word 'boundary' sounds cold. it isn't.

The word "boundary" can sound cold. Like a fence. Like keeping people out.

But a boundary is just a clear line. It marks what is okay with you.

Think of a friend who tells you plainly, "I can't talk after nine." Now you know. You won't have to guess.

A clear line like that is one of the kindest things in a friendship.

boundary
A clear line that shows what is okay and not okay with you.

A researcher named Brené Brown studied very kind people. She looked for what they had in common.

Your guess

Brené Brown found the most caring people she studied shared one surprising trait. What was it?

So warmth and clear lines are not opposites. They travel together.

compassion
Caring about how another person feels, and wanting to help.
Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart

Brown calls a boundary a building block for compassion — not the opposite of it.

A boundary is cold. It means pushing people away.Tap to reveal

This is easy to believe because the word sounds like a fence. But a boundary tells people where you stand. That is clear, not cold. Hiding your line is what leaves them guessing.

Another module covers how to have the hard talk. This one shows where your line actually is.

Sources

  • Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart
  • Henry Cloud & John Townsend, Boundaries
  • Nedra Glover Tawwab, Set Boundaries, Find Peace
  • Harriet Lerner, The Dance of Anger
  • Brené Brown
  • MentalHealth.com