A Talk on Boundaries
One of the many topics we learned in Recovery was setting healthy boundaries in our relationships. Learning to say "no" is what allowed me to let go of an overdue relationship from college which served no purpose in my present life. Sometimes we need to set boundaries on people close to us- our family and friends- who cause us harm through their destructive behavior, and this can be hard because we don't want to hurt them. But sometimes giving in is more harmful than displeasing them. Avoiding confrontation might seem like an immediate remedy to create harmony, but this only creates further conflict down the road. At first, the person you are setting boundaries with will become angry because they are used to being able to control others. When they can't control you, they are left to face themselves and have to grow up and change, since their former behavior no longer works. In essence, they are forced to deal with their own pain and stop blaming others. The worst th...