And, yet, the resentment is there…under the surface—like a simmering cauldron. You are sad, hurt, disappointed, and/or angry. It may not be long until you feel yourself about to explode. And you feel this way often as it happens over and over again.

One source of this pattern of resentfulness and even anger may often be EXPECTATIONS.

Even speaking and hearing the word “boundaries” brings up a host of reactions in many of us. In fact, many people are simply not comfortable with the term. If it feels awkward to even talk about setting boundaries, it can feel even more difficult to actually set boundaries. Not only can it feel uncomfortable, but for many of us it actually feels mean and heartless to even consider setting a boundary. In this way, the assertive action of setting boundaries often is interpreted as aggression.