Quote: Boundaries are where we begin, not end.
I don’t know why I had to be on the earth 40 years before I ever heard about “boundaries.” Our ability to set them in relationships we have in our lives determines our long term emotional health and quality of life. Setting boundaries with the people closest to us can be difficult for so many reasons, we don’t want to hurt someone close to us, we worry what other people will think, or we are afraid of losing a relationship that we value if we draw a line in the sand and it gets crossed. But the problem of not setting boundaries is more grave than these fearful feelings I describe because if we don’t, we end up losing the most important human relationship, the one we have with ourselves. Boundaries show us what problems and tendencies are ours to work on and what lies within the other person. They help us find safety and security in relationships and establish how we want to be treated. They create a trusting environment and the freedom to be ourselves without the need to control anyone else. With proper boundaries in place, we have the energy and strength to grow and become the best version of ourselves.
Daily Action: Are there any areas in your life you are taking on more than feels healthy to you? Write them down to get clear on them, then have that conversation with that relationship in your life.
Daily Reframe: Setting boundaries isn’t selfish, they create the strongest version of ourselves.
With Optimism,
Wendy