Blooming Boundaries

Imagine you’re a gardener tending to a beautiful, delicate flower garden. In the beginning, the fence around your garden is made of soft, flexible material. While it looks nice and inviting, it doesn’t keep out curious critters or harsh weather. Over time, the flowers begin to wilt and lose their vibrancy, and you find yourself working tirelessly to mend the damage. One day, you decide to replace the soft fence with a sturdier, more solid one. At first glance, it seems much stronger and perhaps a little less inviting, but soon you notice a change. The flowers begin to thrive, protected from harm. You don’t have to work as hard to maintain the garden, and you can finally enjoy the beauty and serenity you’ve created. By building stronger boundaries, you’ve given your garden (and yourself) the chance to grow and flourish—allowing you to be kinder an ...