Enduring (long-lasting) relationship difficulties can usually be traced to ill-defined boundaries.

Boundaries (fences, walls, lines on a road) surround us.

Some are unseen. People give couples “room” to be couples even though there is no visual demarcation.

Internal boundaries are “the lines I draw” inside me. These “unseen” boundaries are the reasons I don’t steal, hit annoying people, or say everything I think.

Boundaries support necessary separateness, space, definition, and therefore provide necessary clarity.

Separateness, space, clarity, are essential for individual growth and the wellness of any family or community.

Boundaries keep us apart and together by keeping us healthily apart and healthily together. People who are too close, and people who are too far apart, stunt or distort their potential.

Two imperfect illustrations:

Every time a vehicle is on the road a driver must obey (honor, acknowledge) many rules, and respect many boundaries or, of course, accidents occur, build up occurs, people are injured, and things are damaged.

Trees cannot grow to full height if planted too close to each other. If planted too far apart, their unified capacity to provide shade is limited.

Adults (except in very unusual circumstances) are responsible for establishing and maintaining their own boundaries. Boundary maintenance cannot be left to another no matter how much love or care or history is shared.