Good fences make good neighbors, right? No fences, no privacy. No privacy, no personal space. No personal space, no healthy relationship. This is why good boundaries help us maintain good relationships.
Imagine that there were no clearly marked property lines between your property and your neighbor's. One day you come out of your house to find the neighbor splashing around in your pool. His dog is in the middle of your yard, squeezing out a fresh one on your lawn. Well, if there is no clearly-defined property line, is your neighbor entirely to blame? In this scenario you may need to accept some of the responsibility for not setting clear boundaries to protect your privacy.
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Key ideas in this chapter
- The importance of clear boundaries in relationships
- How addiction is contagious within family systems
- Setting boundaries without abandoning love
- Protection as an act of love for both yourself and your addicted loved one
"You would never let a stranger do these things to you; so why do you let someone you love do them to you?"