Love Vision Rule #42: Establish Healthy Boundaries in Your Life

Rule #42: Establish Healthy Boundaries in Your Life

You must establish boundaries in your life. They are necessary in order to maintain healthy relationships with your family, friends, partner, co-workers, acquaintances, and even strangers. Overall, boundaries are essential in order to maintain a healthy life. So…what exactly are personal boundaries? They are simply the physical, emotional, and mental limits that we establish in order to protect ourselves from being used, manipulated, or violated by others. When you set boundaries, you are taking direct control of your life. You must take responsibility for how you allow people to treat you. Your boundaries serve as filters permitting what is and what is not acceptable in your life. You know yourself best and you know what you truly need, want, and value. Don’t ever compromise who you are and what you believe in. Stand firm in your identity, core values, and beliefs and establish boundaries that honor that and which command respect.

Exercise #42- Establish Healthy Boundaries in Your Life: Use the following 10 steps to build and maintain healthy boundaries, so that you can live a balanced life. Maintaining your personal boundaries is a full-time job, so don’t give up and don’t give in! You deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. 1) Define your limits and expectations. 2) Grant yourself the permission to set boundaries and work to preserve them. 3) Listen to your feelings. 4) Be direct. 5) Make self-care a priority. 6) Seek support (, ex: coaching, counseling, church, support group, good friends) 7) Be assertive. 8) Learn to say no. 9) Identify the actions and behaviors that are unacceptable to you and your life. 10) Trust and believe in yourself.