When Does a Boundary Become a Cage?
When Does a Boundary Become a Cage? A boundary becomes a cage when it stops protecting something you value and starts preventing you from pursuing what you value. Boundaries are usually discussed as tools for protection. They help preserve time, attention, money, privacy, safety, emotional space, and countless other things that can easily be consumed by competing demands. That makes restriction part of their purpose. A healthy boundary may disappoint someone. It may eliminate an option. It may require saying no even when saying yes would be easier. The fact that a boundary constrains you does not make it unhealthy. The more useful question is whether the reason for the constraint still applies. The Boundary Is Not the Goal Consider a rule such as: “I don't check work email after dinner.” The rule may protect time with your family, your ability to rest, or your attention. What matters is not the rule itself. What matters is what the rule protects. The same logic applies elsewhere. Y...