Do you have trouble setting healthy boundaries? This is an extremely common challenge, especially when it comes to family. In this episode, I talk with my colleague Kim about navigating boundaries with family members who may not respect or understand them. As Kim and I discuss, setting boundaries with family can be particularly challenging due to the emotional entanglement and ingrained roles we play.

I feel like sometimes we even work harder on relationships outside the family dynamic, we’ll work harder to save a friendship. We’ll work harder to save a working environment than sometimes we do with the family.

During our conversation, Kim and I dive deep into the psychology behind why we often struggle more with setting boundaries with family versus other relationships. We explore the fear of losing love or acceptance, as well as the tendency to fall back into old roles and patterns. Kim and I provide practical tips for getting clear on your values and what you want the relationship to look like, then communicating those boundaries in a calm, compassionate way.

It’s almost like going back and trying to correct your teacher. That would be difficult, right? And so, maybe that’s why we sometimes do walk away a little quicker because we think that we can’t tell the teacher they were wrong.

I believe this conversation can help anyone who has difficulty setting boundaries with family members, whether it’s overbearing parents, critical siblings, or other relatives. Kim and I offer a thoughtful, nuanced approach to this common challenge, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, forgiveness, and maintaining connection where possible.

Be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts on this episode – Kim and I are eager to continue the conversation and provide the support you need.

Thanks for listening, and please share with someone you know who might benefit, I appreciate it.