So how do we become both friendly and careful How do we remain open hearted while maintaining appropriate boundaries Through practice and through embracing these principles of leading with gentle assumption, we have to assume others have good intentions unless proven otherwise. That women might have genuinely believed all animals would enjoy greeting each other Her methodology was flawed but her desire for canine friendship likely wasn’t malicious and by clearly Communication clearly and kindly Clear boundaries which don’t require harsh delivery Would you mind giving us a little space Thank you so much delivered with a smile communicates the same limit as a stern warning but without provoking defensiveness . When we Embrace the power of “and” We can be both friendly AND boundaries, We can be both compassionate AND clear also We can both protect our peace AND extend generosity to others reject either/or thinking in relationships .
There by leading to Respect of others’ boundaries without taking them personally When someone sets a limit with us it’s rarely about us specifically It’s about their needs their history and their capacity in that moment Honoring their boundaries without offense is the ultimate sign of respect. Remember that words shape worlds and The language we use about others whether spoken aloud or held silently creates the atmosphere of our relationships to Choose words that expand possibilities rather than contract them .
*Image created by META AI *