Steps To Set Healthy Boundaries
Healthy boundaries play a very important role in our lives and mental health wellness. As a result, it’s imperative for us to be able to set healthy boundaries in our day-to-day lives. Below are 4 key steps that you can follow to help you set healthy boundaries with other people.
1. Acknowledge and reflect on your feelings – Pay attention to how you feel about a certain matter. What makes you comfortable? What makes you uncomfortable? If something makes you uncomfortable, it may be a sign a boundary is being violated
2. Remind yourself it is okay to set boundaries and give yourself permission – Many people feel guilty when setting boundaries or saying “no.” Don’t be afraid of setting boundaries and remind yourself you’re not doing anything wrong, even though we may not get the response we want from everyone.
3. Set your limits – It’s impossible to set boundaries if we ourselves don’t know what our limits are. Think about your physical, psychological, emotional, mental, spiritual, and other boundaries. Decide what your limits are and set those boundaries.
4. Be direct & assertive – After we set boundaries, it’s important we communicate them with others. Be direct with them and let them know what your boundaries are. They may not be receptive to them at first because it may cause a change in your relationship dynamics but it’s vital you are direct in communicating these boundaries. You should also follow through with those boundaries – if they are being broken or violated, stand up for yourself and enforce those boundaries. In many cases, people may not even realize they are violating your boundaries without being told they are doing so.
After we set boundaries, it’s important we communicate them with others. Be direct with them. You should also follow through with those boundaries – if they are being broken or violated, stand up for yourself and enforce those boundaries. In many cases, people may not even realize they are violating your boundaries without being told they are doing so.