> Something about relationships or my partners slowly erodes them.
Simply put: fear of losing access to sex will make many men compromise a lot. There are other things that can contribute to this, such as "wanting her to be happy" being conflated with "she will only be happy if she gets her way".
I recommend you read No More Mr. Nice Guy and see if it rings any bells for you.
A strong commitment to boundaries doesn't do a lot for you if you capitulate every time.
As for the reasoning behind my actions, I often feel it’s not only about sex, but a deeper need to avoid confrontation and keep a relative peace in the relationship.
In one of my last relationships, part of the problem was a constant war over my personal boundaries. My partner was requiring too much of my attention and energy, pushing things, moving fast at every turn. This eventually eroded the lines I set.
This situation is something I need to keep an eye out for future relationships!
Simply put: fear of losing access to sex will make many men compromise a lot. There are other things that can contribute to this, such as "wanting her to be happy" being conflated with "she will only be happy if she gets her way".
I recommend you read No More Mr. Nice Guy and see if it rings any bells for you.
A strong commitment to boundaries doesn't do a lot for you if you capitulate every time.