A Boundary in marriage is something that indicates a limit or extent of relating and being. Marital vows set the tone for whether boundaries will be upheld, respected, or carried out.
Those promises shared before the other expose the intent of the heart to do good towards the other, have them in mind, and to deeply consider them.
The “how-to” of this is expressed in many ways throughout the entirety of marriage. You can say that each marriage will need to come back to the sacred words that were spoken at the beginning of the matrimony. Those words are the heart behind the reason you keep boundaries in marriage.
Boundaries have a spectrum from rigidity to being porous to the best, healthy.
RIGID
Rigid Boundaries like to avoid closeness, seek to do things on their own, protective of personal information, seemingly detached, and keep others at arms length or farther.
POROUS
Porous Boundaries skewed the other way. They freely give up too much personal information, like to please others, overly involved with others, do not depend on their opinions and thoughts, accept disrespect, and fear rejection.
HEALTHY
Healthy Boundaries grow relationships and encourage others to grow through its disposition. They value their opinions, rarely compromise values for others, share personal information appropriately, communicate personal wants and needs effectively, and accept others’ boundaries.
How would you assess your marital boundaries?
Remargo Yancie, LPC is a licensed therapist, a mental health and relationship counselor. Central Light Counseling is founded to provide quality psychotherapy and care. It’s our privilege to work with leaders, influencers, and couples in their developments and journeys of life.