It is our
respect for the fact that our lives exist independently of the lives of
others that allows us to set emotional and physical boundaries, to
explore our interests and capabilities even when people close to us do
not understand our partialities, and to agree to disagree. Maintaining
healthy barriers is a matter of recognizing the point at which our
principles and those of our loved ones and peers no longer overlap.
Human beings must relentlessly fight the temptation to follow the crowd.
Naturally, we want to be liked, accepted, and admired, and it often
seems that the easiest way to win approval is to ally ourselves with
others. When we assume that our standards are the same as those of the
people close to us without first examining our own intentions, we do
ourselves a disservice. The barriers that exist between us are a
reminder that our paths in life will be unique, and we must each accept
that "I" and "we" can coexist peacefully. Our reactions, our likes and
dislikes, our loves, our goals, and our dreams may or may not align with
those of others, but we should neither ask others to embrace what we
hold dear nor feel compelled to embrace what they hold dear. ...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...
