“Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.”
I’ve always liked that quote, even though I don’t agree with it completely ❣️
I don’t believe you have to be disrespectful or cruel towards another to honor yourself and your boundaries!
However, as a recovering chronic people pleaser, I’ve learned that kindness can be mistaken for weakness and it’s SO easy to become a push over ⚡️
I’ve been that “kind friend” that sacrificed themselves for the other; the one that others turned to for emotional dumping that left me ungrounded, the late night calls that violated my boundaries (calls after 10:00 pm…I find that to be rude, especially if it’s to “vent”. Call me old-fashioned 🤷🏽♀️😂), the one that pays for someone’s flight out AND the entertainment while together, the conversations that put me in the middle of relationship drama…yes, a recovering people pleaser!
I would say ever since grade school, I’ve been the “kind” one, this behavior developing in relation to my parents, most notably my mother, putting me on the receiving end to people’s emotional baggage 🌑
Here’s the thing though: kindness has boundaries too! As a naturally caring individual that has had my boundaries overstepped (which was due to never having healthy boundaries with parents), I’ve had to learn how to navigate situations that have seemingly tested my character image.
Sometimes what is best for you will upset another. It is okay to create safety for yourself, while also honoring the Other, and knowing that sometimes, this creates upset 🌀
The tension we feel towards the Other can be just as helpful as the harmony and love we feel, depending on our response and the repair involved!
If you ready to reclaim your kindness while setting strong, healthy boundaries, we can work together 1:1 to create a life that honors both you and others. You don’t have to wait any longer—start your journey towards self-respect and empowerment now! Navigate to Light of the Phoenix or the Cosmic Human
