If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when you really wanted to say “no,” you’re not alone. Setting boundaries—limits we place on our time, energy, and emotional availability—is a skill many of us struggle to master. Whether it’s declining an extra project at work, enforcing limits with a family member, or carving out time for yourself, boundaries often feel uncomfortable, even though they’re essential for emotional well-being.

We’ve all been there. One moment, everything feels fine. The next, you and your partner are in the same fight you swore you’d never have again, the same type of fight you’ve had a hundred times. It starts small—a tone of voice, a forgotten task, but spirals into something bigger, leaving both of you angry, disconnected, and emotionally drained. This exhausting pattern is known as the conflict cycle.