The word "boundaries" is everywhere at the moment. We're encouraged to set them with partners, friends, family members and colleagues. We're told to "protect our energy" and remove people who don't respect our boundaries. But what does having healthy boundaries actually mean?

People pleasing isn't simply about being nice. It's a pattern in which we prioritise other people's feelings, needs or approval while finding it difficult to recognise—or express—our own.

The inner critic is the internal voice that judges, criticises or questions us. It often tells us we're not good enough, clever enough, successful enough or worthy enough.