Letting people walk all over us and exhaust our resources and reserves happens when we have weak boundaries. Do you ever feel irritation building up because you feel like you have done so much for someone else without being compensated? Do you feel like your good actions should be returned and they are not?

You can change this within yourself by developing stronger boundaries with others. It is okay to do a few things for your man and loved ones, but don’t bend over backwards or go too far out of your way to do things for them. Definitely do not inconvenience yourself. Stop before you feel your energy and patience are completely depleted. Examine the times when you feel exhausted, and recognize when your boundaries have been so weak that it contributed to your feelings of being used.

Putting stronger boundaries in motion in your life and actions will result in you having more patience and time for yourself. Your energy will come back and you will have a much better sense of humor. Your man and your loved ones will develop more respect for you and they will begin to give back to you. Giving too much to them prevents them from giving enough to you, so once you stop they will have room to begin doing things for you.

Examine the boundaries in your life and make the changes needed to create stronger ones. You will be calm, serene and happier with well-defined boundaries in place in all areas of your life; work, home, and in your love life. --Kerry L. Gray, kerry@loveawake.com