4 Ways Healthy Boundaries Set You Free

Healthy boundaries are essential for living a fulfilling and authentic life. But what if we have never been taught them? How many women can relate that as a little girl they were told to do or say things that made them feel uncomfortable because it would make other people happy? Give a hug or a kiss or go to a neighbours house. We were to be seen but not heard. Also, not to show too much emotion because it made other people uncomfortable. We have no idea how to take up space in this world or set boundaries in friendships, relationships romance or work. Boundaries are the physical, emotional, and mental limits that we set for ourselves and others, and they play a crucial role in our overall well-being. What are 4 ways that Healthy Boundaries can set us free and allow us to move into our authentic selves?

Protecting Your Time and Energy: When we set healthy boundaries, we prioritize our time and energy for the things that matter most to us. This means saying "no" to commitments or activities that don't align with our values or goals. By doing so, we can avoid burnout and create space for the things that bring us joy and fulfillment. When we are saying yes to everything and the people pleaser in us comes out, this is energetically depleting. We become resentful and never have our needs met. This is unfair to us and the people around us. Start small. and listen to your body. When something doesn’t feel right your body will tell you. That pang in your stomach, listen to it! That’s your body telling you this is a no and it’s time to set up a boundary.

Enhancing Relationships: Healthy boundaries are also essential for building and maintaining healthy relationships. When we communicate our boundaries clearly and respectfully, we can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. Boundaries can help us establish trust, respect, and mutual understanding in our relationships, leading to deeper connections and more fulfilling interactions. You also get to be your authentic self in the relationship. You aren’t pretending to be anyone that you aren’t. When we say yes to things that we don’t actually want to do or like, we aren’t showing who we really are and hiding our authentic selves to become agreeable.

Honouring Your Needs and Values: Setting healthy boundaries also allows us to honour our needs and values. By setting limits on what we're willing to tolerate or accept, we can prioritize our well-being and prevent others from crossing our personal boundaries. This can help us build confidence, self-respect, and a sense of empowerment. When you are a people pleaser who has no boundaries, everyone else’s needs come first. You are not a priority and your body and mind feel it. I use the example with my 8 Week Tune In clients, to sit at the table and eat. Especially if they are parents and are busy getting everyone else’s meal ready and not first of all, showing their kids that they also deserve to eat and 2) their body isn’t making the brain body connection that they are actually eating when they are leaning over the counter.

Fostering Personal Growth: Finally, healthy boundaries can help us grow and evolve as individuals. When we set boundaries, we can challenge ourselves to be more assertive, authentic, and accountable. We can learn to communicate our needs and values more effectively and develop healthier habits and behaviors. We are pushing past the comfort and stepping into what’s uncomfortable and that’s where the growth happens. When we begin to set boundaries it is SUPER uncomfortable but my dear husband once said to me, a situation is only as uncomfortable as you make it. Step into the discomfort and look at it head on. I promise it will feel so good stepping into your power and setting that boundary.

Healthy boundaries are essential for living a fulfilling and authentic life. They help us protect our time and energy, enhance our relationships, honour our needs and values, and foster personal growth. If you're struggling with boundary-setting, think about doing some life coaching with me or signing up for one of my courses. AND if you are a people pleaser, then make sure you listen to my people pleasing meditation with swearing. With practice and patience, you can learn to set healthy boundaries and create a life that's aligned with your true purpose and potential.