Test: What’s your personal boundary weak spot?

Family life can present the biggest challenge to maintaining healthy boundaries because the dynamics can be complex and ever-changing. We’re also at risk of getting stuck in old patterns of relating that mean we accept situations that we wouldn’t tolerate in other areas of our life.

The result can be a disconnect between what we believe in and how we behave when we’re with family. In moments of insight, it can be blatantly obvious what needs to change, but putting it into action can trigger uneasy feelings and a critical voice that questions whether we deserve to put ourselves first and aim for more happiness.

An underlying belief of not being good enough can also manifest as people-pleasing or saying yes to things you don’t want to do, especially when it comes to family. You may thrive on being at the heart of your family, the one who can be relied on to get everyone together and to take charge in a crisis. But if you feel like there’s never space to share your own worries, you’re risking burnout. Think about what small shift you could make that will start to change the dynamics. You might be surprised to find that being clearer about your own boundaries helps others think about theirs.