Boundaries: Take Your Life Back
Boundaries are limits that we set to protect our mental health and overall well-being. Boundaries can be established in relationships, with yourself, in your work or school life and a number of other situations. In our relationships, boundaries represent how and when people are allowed to interact and communicate with us.
For some people, boundary setting can sound harsh or uncomfortable, especially if healthy boundary setting wasn’t something they grew up knowing about or practicing. Some people may have grown up in environments where boundaries were non-existent, enmeshed, rigid or a combination. Additionally, traumatic experiences may have also impacted your ability to create safe and healthy boundaries in your life.
Even if you currently have difficulty establishing healthy boundaries, boundary setting can be developed with patience and practice.
Benefits of healthy boundaries:
Empowerment. Boundaries empower you to show up more confidently and gives you the confidence to say “no” to certain people and situations. When you say “no” to certain people or situations, you instead say “YES” to yourself and the things that you value.
Liberation. When you don’t set firm boundaries, you may begin to feel that you’re in bondage to others and that you can't live the life you truly desire. Boundaries allow you to reclaim control over your life, which leads to greater mental, emotional and physical freedom.
Efficiency. By having healthy boundaries in place you’ll notice that you live your life more efficiently. As you cut back on wasted time and wasted relationships, you will perform and operate at a higher level. Having healthy boundaries allows you to be in control of where you invest your time. You are able to prioritize your time and energy into things that are most important to you and will yield the greatest rewards.
Goals. Boundaries and goal setting are interconnected. Setting boundaries around your time and what you choose to do with your time allows you to maximize the achievement of your goals and grow closer to becoming who you want to be.
Better Relationships. Setting boundaries in all relationship types (platonic, romantic, familial, workplace, etc.) provides clarity, manages expectations and allows for healthy communication. Boundaries also promote honesty and transparency in relationships, which allows you to feel that your voice matters. Additionally, when you begin to respect your own boundaries you are more understanding of other peoples’ boundaries as well.
Safety. Healthy boundaries can protect you from emotional turmoil, heartache, and abuse. Healthy boundaries can help you determine who is a safe person to be around. Once you have communicated your boundaries to someone there should be an expectation that they will respect those boundaries. If this person ignores your boundaries, you may determine that they’re not emotionally safe to be around.
We believe that you’re capable of setting healthy boundaries! Here are a few questions to help guide you on the path towards liberation and inner peace.
Reflection Questions
What is preventing me from setting healthy boundaries?
How will my life improve when I establish healthy boundaries?
What is one small step I can take today towards creating healthy boundaries in my life?
Be well,
Nicole & Nick
