You may be acutely aware of your boundaries in your relationships today. Since you could be on your guard, it might be useful for you to think about your reactions to others when you feel vulnerable or criticized. Perhaps you have the tendency to withdraw and isolate yourself from those around you, or you might be extremely outspoken and make your ideas known. Whatever way you use to cope, you may want to reflect upon what has worked well for you in the past and what hasn't. Trying something new today could smooth your relationships and help you establish healthy boundaries. Should you feel threatened, you may think about writing down your feelings and finding a different way to express them in a gentle but assertive manner. Being able to convey your feelings honestly without criticism on your part could make you feel better and open up the way for more effective communication.

Understanding our feelings first allows us to set healthy boundaries for ourselves. There is the inclination for many of us to keep using the same defense mechanisms over and over again. Since each situation is different, it is important that we reflect upon what we need to do to communicate our needs and establish boundaries that work for us in each given situation. This means that instead of learning to guard ourselves, each time we feel uncomfortable we must learn to evaluate what would ease communication so that we feel better. Knowing your feelings today will help you create an environment that works well for you.