21st September 2026

Today I want to talk to you about why it is so important to respect other people’s boundaries and how to do so.

We live such busy and interconnected lives these days, don’t we? It can be so easy to push into other people’s spaces, whether physical, emotional, or personal, that do not belong to us.

Recognising where you end and another person begins is a mark of genuine maturity. When you deliberately and outwardly respect other people’s boundaries, you are clearly telling both that person and yourself that their needs matter. You are also acknowledging that their comfort, their time, and their choices are valid to you, even when they differ from your own preferences or expectations.

This type of behaviour may seem like you are being aloof or indifferent, but it is not about being distant or cold. It is just about being genuinely considerate and people who feel respected like this are far more likely to open up, to trust you, and to build meaningful relationships with you over time.

Here are some examples:

• If someone says to you that they need some space after a disagreement or an argument, give it to them without question. Pressing for an immediate resolution to things, often just makes things worse, not better.
• A relative, partner or friend politely asks not to be contacted during their working hours. Honour this consistently, even if you feel that you have something urgent to say, but probably is not.
• A family member or friend says they have to set a limit on how often they can visit you because of their other commitments. Understand that this is about their own capacity, not a rejection of you, or your relationship with them.

However, some people will still argue that boundaries can become barriers, and that if everyone retreats behind their own limits, genuine closeness then becomes impossible. There is something in this I must acknowledge, because the social connection that human beings crave does require a degree of vulnerability, and a willingness to take risks and take a step towards another person.

So, today, try to notice where other people’s boundaries lie and where yours begin, and honour them without hesitation or resentment, because you now know that real respect for boundaries like this helps build the trust that ultimately makes closeness possible, so remember that you should always respect other people’s boundaries!