boundaries

When i set boundaries i feel better about myself. 

When i express my authentic needs, thoughts, and feelings and request that others respect them, i serve myself and i grow my own confidence. 

Throughout my life, i have let go of unhealthy relationships. 

In the past i had a pattern of “taking pity” on certain individuals and trying to “help” them. But upon further reflection, my connection to them may have been about finding others who i perceived to be needier or more fucked up than i am. “At least I’m not ________.” 

I can see this pattern because i have been on the receiving end of this pattern as well. I have been “rescued” by individuals looking to feel good about themselves. 

And I have felt the sting when those same individuals resented when my luck turned and i was on steadier ground. Sometimes people like you when you are down, unstable, not strong in one way or another. 

But when you get healthy and empowered they cannot handle it. They are jealous. They want you to stay small and continue making them feel better about themselves and their own choices.  

The key to all of this is to be our OWN source of self-respect and validation. To love ourselves and not need others to validate it one way or another.