Your boundaries are social rules of engagements you have with others. A person with healthy boundaries can “No” without guilt. Below are 7 additional ways that will make it easier for you to enforce boundaries.
- Know what you are willing to accept and what you are not. Be specific about your limits.
- Know what you value the most. Don’t compare your values with others – values are very personal. Determine what is your priority and then live your life keeping your priorities in check.
- Stay in touch with your emotional disposition. When your body is having a reaction, don’t avoid it. Listen to your body; it will tell you everything you need to know.
- Don’t put others on a pedestal. When you do, you may find yourself discounting the manipulation or abuse they render.
- Stop saying “Yes” when your brain is screaming “No.” You will walk away feeling taking advantage of and, worse, defeated.
- Be courteous to others. It isn’t about who is right – it is about playing fair (and fighting fair.)
- Aggressive is not the same as assertive. Asserting yourself is not only health, but it teaches others how to treat you.
~Lisa Schiro, M.S., LCPC