What are boundaries?
A boundary is a limit or space between you and the other person; a clear place where you begin and the other person ends . . . The purpose of setting a healthy boundary is, of course, to protect and take good care of you.
Healthy boundaries can serve to establish one’s identity. Specifically, healthy boundaries can help people define their individuality and can help people indicate what they will and will not hold themselves responsible for.
While boundaries are often psychological or emotional, boundaries can also be physical. For example, declining physical contact from a coworker is setting an important boundary, one that’s just as crucial as setting an emotional boundary, i.e. asking that same coworker not to make unreasonable demands on your time or emotions.
Healthy boundaries are a crucial component of self-care. That’s because “in work or in our personal relationships, poor boundaries lead to resentment, anger, and burnout” (Nelson, 2016).
Examples of healthy boundaries:
Your Right to Privacy
The Ability to Change Your Mind
Your Right to Your Own Time
The Need to Handle Negative Energy
The Right to Say No
What Do Healthy Boundaries Look Like to You?
A simple 4 step process to create boundaries looks like this:
Step 1: Define what your boundary is.
Step 2: Communication your boundary.
Step 3: Keep it simple - do not over explain yourself.
Step 4: State why this is important to you.
In what part of your life do you need to set a boundary?
To get instant access to our boundary setting workbook click here.
With love & gratitude,
Fabienne
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