What is the litmus test for being (or allowing yourself to be) a doormat. It's kind of in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?
The test I always used was, when the actions that I was facing, sacrificed my core values.
But then again, one has to know them self well enough to clearly define those values, to know the difference.
It is a circular - chicken or egg - kind of debate.
I do feel that fear can cause a lot of LBS to become a doormat, regardless of their core if they choose to not face those fears and address things from a rational point of view, instead of an emotional point of view.
Early in nearly every situation, are the times that the LBS SHOULD lay down the boundaries, to avoid later behaviors becoming a problem, yet most are paralyzed by the fear that one more wrong thing will doom their situation, or that one magic thing they do correctly will "fix" their situation, that they simply cannot know that fine line.
