You set a boundary with your mom. She cried. Now your sister is texting that 'Mom is really hurt' and asking why you have to make everything so difficult. Somehow, you're the villain. This is the hardest truth about cycle breaking: when you refuse to play your role, you become the problem.

You're scrolling through social media. Someone from high school just got promoted. Another friend is buying their second home. Your cousin just had her third baby. You close the app and stare at the ceiling, thinking: 'I'm so behind.' But here's the truth—you're not behind. You're on your own timeline.

You're at a crowded restaurant with friends. The music is too loud, you can sense someone's upset even though they're smiling, and two hours in, you're completely drained. If you're a highly sensitive person, the world operates at a different frequency—and boundaries aren't optional, they're essential.