I can’t tell you how many conversations and discussions I’ve had with people about this topic, as it seems to be at the crux of so many issues within relationships – be it with friends, colleagues or family.
Boundaries are essential to healthy relationships and in fact, a healthy life. Setting and sustaining boundaries takes skill.
Unfortunately it’s a skill that many of us don’t learn.
Dr Dana Gionata Ph.D describes healthy boundaries as “𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦.”
Some insights into building better boundaries and maintaining them are:
- Name your limits
- Tune into your feelings
- Be direct
- Give yourself permission
- Practice self-awareness
- Consider your past and present
- Make self care a priority
- Seek support
- Be assertive
- Start small
Setting boundaries takes courage and practice, especially if you’ve always been a people pleaser and never wanted to ‘rock the boat’. Sometimes just the thought of this can make you shudder!
But you know deep down, how important this is for yourself.
If you’re having a hard time with this, that’s ok.
If you need to seek support – do so.
Whether that’s with good friends, counselling or coaching. Having a support network that will help encourage and nurture you and hold each other accountable can be really helpful as you strengthen that ‘boundary muscle’.
It does take practice and it’s completely understandable that you might need some support at the start, but it’s a skill you CAN master.
If this is something you feel you want to develop and work on more, reach out to me and we can look at ways that I can help support you.
Meantime if you like to start elevate your self worth to enhance your relationship with self and others, then grab my Hypnosis Kit below now!
Peace, love and courage
