Building on that reframing, boundaries aren’t necessarily about creating more distance; they’re often about defining the terms of connection. A boundary can sound like, “I can talk, but not late at night,” or “I want to help, but I can’t take this on alone.” In that sense, it is less a barrier than a blueprint for sustainable relationship.
Paradoxically, clear boundaries can make intimacy safer. When expectations are named, people don’t have to guess where the edge is—and you don’t have to rely on resentment to signal that you’ve been pushed too far. [...]
