The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I was reading about the importance of setting boundaries for good relationships -- something I'd never thought about in this way. My practice was always to bend over backwards trying to be accommodating, since both my A and I saw my demands/boundaries -- for instance, for affection, equal say, etc. -- as harmful for the relationship.
Anyway, the passage from the book says:
@font-face { font-family: "Times"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.That is why we sometimes attack who they are, which is far more hurtful than addressing a behavior or a choice.For our own sake, we need to understand that its dangerous to our relationships and our well-being to get mired in shame or blame, or to be full of self-righteous anger.Its also impossible to practice compassion from a place of resentment.If were going to practice acceptance and compassion, we need boundaries and accountability.
This is from The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. I might have saved myself a lot of trouble if I'd seen it this way many years ago.
Thanks mattie, I asked Hp to guide me today and have lots of information in different ways to show me the part I have played.
Today i am trying to learn how to love and take care of me and although I do have boundaries today, I know this is something I need to keep practicing. Today I want to be accountable for looking after me while being compassionate and kind to others thanks again
I totally understand this. There have been a million times, it seemed, where I either didn't set boundaries or didn't enforce them, and didn't hold another person accountable. I have felt used and mistreated so many times.
These days, I'm getting better with practice at speaking up when my AH steps over a boundary and I'm feeling mistreated It's so funny, though - many times, he has no idea that I've even set a boundary. Some of my boundary setting still occurs in my own head, so other people have no idea it's even out there. Guess I'll work on trying to communicate what them to others a little better. :)