Rules of Life, The, 4th Edition

RULE 48

Draw the lines around yourself

Personal boundaries are the imaginary lines you draw around yourself that no one should cross either physically – unless invited in – or emotionally. You are entitled to respect, privacy, decency, kindness, love, truth and honour, to name but a few rights. If people cross the lines, blur the boundaries, you are entitled to stand up for yourself and say, ‘No, I won’t put up with this’.

But you have to draw the lines first. You have to know what you will stand for and what you won’t. You have to set the boundaries in your own mind before you can expect others to respect them, stick to them.

The more secure you become with your boundaries, the less power other people will have over you. The more clearly defined ...