What is a boundary?
A boundary is a limit or space between you and another person or place.
Lack of boundaries or lack of limits can cause:
- Resentment
- Anxiety
- Burn out
- Feeling unappreciated
Setting boundaries with others:
- “Please move back a little.”
- “That joke made me feel uncomfortable.”
- “I don’t appreciate it when you tell me how to feel.”
- “I am not able to meet with you on Tuesday.”
- “I cannot come to the party this weekend.”
- “Please do not call me after 8pm.”
Setting boundaries with yourself:
- “I will not stay up past 11pm on work nights.”
- “I will worry about this for 10 more minutes, then I will move on to something else.”
- “I will work on my homework for 1 hour, then I will take a 15 minute break.”
How to implement your boundary:
- Be clear and direct.
- Uphold your boundary. If you tell someone not to call you after 8pm, they might still call you. It’s okay not to answer.
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