Boundaries: Protecting Your Time, Energy, and Well-being

It took me until my 30s to truly understand having boundaries.

I would allow myself to be uncomfortable if it made others happy. I felt obligation towards friends and family, leading to feelings of guilt when setting boundaries. Often feeling my boundaries was selfish and uncaring. At times my boundaries lead to conflict that me apprehensive to set them in the future.

I would always make myself available even when I wasn't making sure I visited people when I was in town until I realize I was exhausted. Exhausted by always showing up for others when the energy wasn't reciprocated. (More on that in another post)

I would feel drained for answering the phone late night even though I had a rough day and barely made it through without a break down.

For so long I've showed up for everyone in my life, but I had to learn how to show up for myself.

Now that I've set some boundaries for myself some people have reacted negatively to them, and I have to make sure their emotion on my boundaries is none of my business. I have to focus on myself and mental health. I remind myself that my boundaries aren't to hurt others but to protect myself.

I know setting boundaries is scary but there are many reasons you should set them. 

1. Protecting oneself: Establishing clear boundaries helps to protect oneself from being taken advantage of or mistreated by others. 

2. Maintaining healthy relationships: Boundaries help to clarify what one accepts and doesn't accept in a relationship, making it easier to maintain healthy relationships with others. 

3. Building self-esteem: Having and enforcing boundaries can lead to an increase in self-esteem, as it demonstrates that one's needs and values are important and deserve to be respected. 

4. Reducing stress and anxiety: Clear boundaries can ultimately lead to less stress and anxiety, as they provide structure and order to one's relationships and interactions with others. Overall, boundaries are key to maintaining one's physical and emotional well-being, as well as establishing healthy relationships with others.

xoxo 

Brittany Morgan