Emotional Boundaries: How We Break Them and Why They Heal Us

“No” is a complete sentence. ~ Annie Lamott

When I was growing up, I saw how self-sacrifice was celebrated over self-awareness. Because of whatever I witnessed, I learned to override my inner signals consciously or unconsciously. I did this in the name of being “good,” “helpful,” or “strong.” That’s where the People Pleaser in me was born…And, the cost of this conditioning was profoundly wounding on my mental and emotional health. As I began healing, I realized that when we neglect our own boundaries, we drift away from our center, our truth, and ultimately, our peace.

To reclaim my peace of mind, I have had to solidify and re-enforce my boundaries again and again and again over the years. It’s truly one of the most transformative steps that helped me heal.

Boundaries are not walls that keep love out, they are sacred spaces where love can grow safely. They are energetic expressions of self-respect, self-awareness, and spiritual alignment. To violate them, even subtly, is to step out of integrity with the soul.

❤ The following reflections explore the ways we unknowingly betray our own boundaries—not from weakness, but from woundedness, from patterns of survival, and from longing to belong. As you read through them, I invite you to hold yourself with compassion. This is not a call to self-blame, but an invitation to come home to yourself—with clarity, care, and courage.

I am living proof that we can heal from it all. If I can, so can you ❤

Emotional Boundaries: How We Break Them and Why They Heal Us

We Violate Our Own Boundaries When…

….We don’t express our opinion or concern about something that matters to us
When we silence our truth, we disconnect from the voice of our soul. Every time we suppress our authentic feelings to maintain peace or avoid conflict, we create inner dissonance. Over time, this disconnection can manifest as anxiety, resentment, or a sense of invisibility. Spiritually, it’s an act of self-abandonment. Our voice is sacred; speaking our truth is an act of self-respect and alignment with our inner divine essence.

….We agree to take on more than we can realistically handle
The ego often seeks approval through overdoing, overgiving, and overcommitting. But the soul knows balance. When we consistently say “yes” while our spirit whispers “no,” we step outside the rhythm of grace. True service comes from overflow, not depletion. Honoring our limitations is not selfish—it’s a sacred act of stewardship over the life force we’ve been given.

….We spend time with people to the point of emotional exhaustion
Relationships are meant to be reciprocal, not draining. When we ignore our emotional fatigue to please others or avoid solitude, we betray the self. Spiritually, we are reminded that the company we keep should uplift our vibration, not diminish it. Protecting our energy is a form of spiritual hygiene. When we leave spaces feeling hollow, it is a sign that our boundaries were breached—by others or by our own hand.

….We overextend our support to others until we are completely depleted of energy
The heart is generous, but even the heart must rest. Overgiving is often rooted in old wounds—perhaps the need to feel needed, or fear of being unloved if we say no. From a soul perspective, this imbalance disrupts the natural flow of giving and receiving. The divine does not ask us to save others at the cost of ourselves. Compassion begins with self-compassion.

….We neglect how we feel in certain situations or around certain people
Feelings are messengers of the soul. When we dismiss or rationalize discomfort, we reject divine guidance. The body, mind, and spirit are always in communication; when something feels off, it usually is. Tuning in to our inner responses is a spiritual practice—one that allows us to discern what nurtures us and what quietly erodes our well-being.

….We don’t communicate our needs or expectations with others
Assuming others should “just know” what we need is a silent setup for disappointment. Our needs are sacred signals—when we fail to express them, we teach others to ignore or overlook us. Speaking our needs clearly and lovingly is an act of emotional maturity and spiritual sovereignty. Boundaries are bridges to mutual respect, not walls of separation.

….We become passive with our goals and make excuses for ourselves
The soul came here with purpose and intention. When we delay, downplay, or deflect our goals, we dampen our inner light. Excuses may soothe our fear, but they also stall our growth. Spiritually, passivity is a quiet resistance to our own becoming. To move forward, we must confront the fear that tells us we are not ready, not worthy, or not enough—and choose to act anyway.


Final Thoughts:
Your boundaries are the energetic blueprint of your self-worth. They are not just psychological constructs—they are spiritual declarations. To honor your boundaries is to honor the divine spark within you. Healing begins when we no longer abandon ourselves in the name of acceptance, obligation, or fear.
Choose to stand with yourself, again and again ❤

->Here is another article I wrote on boundaries: How to Set Better Emotional Boundaries and Why they are so Important for Healing

Reach out if you need help in setting and solidifying your boundaries ❤

❤ If you’d like 1-on-1 counseling sessions and spiritual guidance with me, come on over here.

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9 thoughts on “Emotional Boundaries: How We Break Them and Why They Heal Us

  1. Margarite's avatar Margarite

    Hi Zeenat,

    Thankyou so much for you wonderful informative and thought provoking article. There are some real gems in there. I will defiantly keep/refer back to this information, to remind myself,to nurture & love my soul🙏

  2. Zeenat, I love how you explained boundaries in this piece, for example, as an enegetic blueprint of our self-work. My boundaries are a million times better than ever and you’re right, setting boundaries is a profound part of our healing practice. There are still times when I don’t hold to my boundaries, but far less often. I feel setting and keeping boundaries are a lifelong practice, at least it has been for me.

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