If you’ve ever found yourself in a misunderstanding with a partner, friend, or loved one, chances are you’ve heard—or said—one of these phrases. They usually pop up when we feel misunderstood or hurt by someone’s words, or when someone takes offense to something we thought was completely harmless. Communication is often cited as the cornerstone of a strong relationship and even couples who love each other deeply can struggle with miscommunication. Why? Because there's often a gap between intent and impact.

What happens when you find yourself wanting to mold or reshape your partner to fit your personal expectations or ideals? You may imagine that if you are able to change aspects of your partner, you will finally be in the perfect relationship or have all your desires affirmed through this person.

Is my partner good enough? Relationships can be complex, intertwining love, admiration, and sometimes uncertainty. A common question we may grapple with when feeling frustrated with our partner is, “Is my partner good enough?”

Boundaries is a topic that is frequently discussed in therapy. I think most people have an idea about what they are and that they’re important, but how to implement and maintain them is often a challenge. There are whole books written on this topic. This piece of writing is just intended to get the conversation started.