Setting Boundaries: The Ultimate Act of Self Love

Life is too short to prioritize people-pleasing.

Growing up around others that gets upset when we set a boundary slowly teaches us to people please and put others first. We ignore our wants, needs and values which can lead us to feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. Here are a few tips to help establish boundaries with others.

1.Know your values and do not compromise them for others. Knowing and understanding what you value helps you make decisions confidently knowing that you have your own back.

2.Evaluate the relationships that you have around you. Healthy people do not push others boundaries. Healthy people are able to accept when others tell them no. It is usually a red flag when you notice someone gets mad when a boundary is set. A person that loves and respects you will not want to make you feel uncomfortable.

3. Being able to express needs and wants. Being able to express needs and wants can be hard but are imperative to communicate to others. Expressing and knowing what we need and want helps decrease anxiety, depression, increase self esteem, have a greater sense of agency and better relationships.

4.Practice saying no. No is a complete sentence. This truth can be hard to accept, especially if you hold onto the biases that saying no makes you a bad person. Saying no to someone else and yes to yourself does not make you a bad person.

5.Discuss with a mental health professional. A mental health professional can help you have an understanding of core beliefs that make it hard to say no.

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Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and taking care of yourself. Here are 10 journal prompts to guide you in this process:

1. What are some situations where I have felt my boundaries were crossed?

2. How do I typically react when someone oversteps my boundaries?

3. What values are important to me when it comes to setting boundaries?

4. Are there any areas of my life where I struggle to set boundaries? Why?

5. How do I communicate my boundaries to others effectively?

6. What are some ways I can practice self-care when my boundaries are not being respected?

7. How do my boundaries contribute to my overall well-being?

8. Are there any beliefs or fears holding me back from setting clear boundaries?

9. How can I assert my boundaries confidently without feeling guilty?

10. What are some positive changes I have noticed in my life since I started prioritizing my boundaries?

Reflecting on these journal prompts can help you gain a better understanding of your boundaries and empower you to set and maintain them in a healthy way. Follow us for more tips and tricks!