Self-sacrifice without boundaries creates entitlement One thing I learned too late is that constantly overextending yourself for people does not always make them appreciate you more. Sometimes it does the opposite. The more you abandon your own needs, tolerate disrespect, and make yourself endlessly available, the more certain people begin treating your presence like something they are automatically entitled to. I used to think love meant constantly understanding people, constantly giving chances, constantly being the bigger person. But without boundaries, self-sacrifice slowly teaches others that your limits do not matter. Your kindness becomes expected instead of valued. Your emotional labor becomes normal instead of appreciated. And the painful part is, entitled people rarely notice how much they are taking because your silence made it look sustainable. That is why boundaries matter. Not because you love less, but because you finally understand that your heart deserves consideration too.