Write your guide to setting healthy boundaries in relationships.

Relationships have become more complicated over the years. I guess this has to do with our fast-paced lives. We increasingly want things immediately, driven by ego. There’s also a lack of patience, understanding, and especially emotional awareness of others’ feelings. Call it a lack of emotional intelligence. As for impatience, I want to underline that it can lead to violence.

Now, what can someone do to avoid being pulled into, say, a toxic relationship? I would say get to know yourself, your wants, needs, and goals, then your weaknesses, lacks, and habits, both the good and the bad, and further embrace and love yourself as you are. Know your worth. Then, in return, if you don’t love yourself, how will you be able to love others? Showing compassion and understanding for their, let’s say, weird, unique behavior.

I think self-knowledge and self-love, including awareness of your worth, are the pillars and virtues one must cultivate to build healthy relationships