The Art of Setting Boundaries. Ancient Chinese Strategies Against Manipulations and External Influence

Once a student asked a sage:

— How can I make people stop taking advantage of my kindness?

The sage led him to the garden.

Some trees stood strong and green, sheltered by a fence from others. Others were broken, their branches torn off again and again by someone.

— Why did these trees die? — asked the student.

— Because every passerby considered them their own.

— And why did the others survive?

The sage smiled:

— This garden had an owner.

Before you is a book about how to become the owner of your own life. Li Namkhun turns to the wisdom of ancient Chinese strategists to show that personal boundaries are the understanding of where others' desires end and your own begin.

Twenty-five strategies will help recognize hidden manipulations, resist external influence, see people's true intentions, and make decisions while staying true to yourself.

He who knows the value of his garden does not argue with every passerby.

He simply remains its owner.