2. BOUNDARIES: Are too few (or too many) why we stay stuck?

Embracing Change

Embracing change often requires setting boundaries and understanding personal decisions. Amanda Doyle discusses the difficulty of being responsible for one's own choices, especially when loved ones do not affirm them. She emphasizes the importance of making decisions that feel right, even if others don't understand:

It's not everyone's job to understand your calling. It wasn't a conference call.

--- Glennon Doyle

Glennon shares how her mother's activism transformed over time, illustrating how love can be channeled effectively to support personal growth and change 1 2.

   

Managing Sensitivity

Managing sensitivity involves navigating the challenges of being highly perceptive in social situations. Glennon Doyle describes how overwhelming environments can deplete her energy, as she absorbs the experiences of everyone around her. This heightened sensitivity has led her to establish numerous boundaries, sometimes to the point of isolation:

I have overdone the boundaries. It's like I spent so long creating this self knowing, like, who I am and what I need and what I'll accept and what I won't, that now I have this amazing sense of self, but nobody else.

--- Glennon Doyle

Amanda Doyle adds that fear often masquerades as love, complicating relationships and boundary-setting 3 4.

   

Breaking Barriers

Breaking down barriers is crucial for enhancing personal relationships. Amanda Doyle reflects on her struggle to ask for help, as she feels solely responsible for her own well-being. This self-imposed boundary can hinder relationships, as it prevents her from expressing vulnerability:

Anger is the bulletproof vest that we put on over fear.

--- Glennon Doyle

Glennon Doyle shares how her sensitivity affects her family, as they often worry about her reactions, highlighting the need for balance in boundary-setting 5 6.