Boundaries are subjective lines you draw that help you establish, to yourself and others, to what extent you are choosing to accept or reject behaviors, attitudes, thoughts and beliefs. Their creations are largely based on your life experiences, values, beliefs and morals. Boundaries express your limits and may also protect you as you go about your living experience.
Boundaries can and sometimes need to be changed or modified. A lack of boundaries, or unhealthy boundaries take you to undesirable outcomes that result in you allowing yourself to be overworked, underpaid, abused, belittled, etc., and/or to do the same to others. Boundaries are a reflection of your personal worth and value, as well as the worth and value you place on things outside yourself.
A boundary needs to be placed or made stronger whenever you find yourself feeling:
Boundaries especially need to be placed when you allow others to run or control your life or you feel you can run or control the lives of others.
"Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one's liberty."
Henri Frederic Amiel
Establishing new boundaries where there were none or simply strengthening an existing boundary takes courage, support from others, and some role playing.
Courage will be necessary in order to stay the course. People don’t normally like to experience changes in those around them since it means they too must change. Most people are resistant to change and setting a new and healthy boundary means you have changed for the better. Consider the following example for resistance to change:
Can you imagine what your loved ones; co-workers or boss, would say if suddenly you arrived from the hairstylist with your hair in a totally different length, color or style? More so, imagine what they would say if suddenly you arrived home or to work with a new and healthy set of boundaries.
We all have a tendency to stay stuck in the same old mold day after day. Change causes a fear of the unknown to many, especially to those closest to us.
You can establish a new boundary by simply saying, “As of today I will or I will no longer …” Say it firmly and authoritatively, and mean it. After setting a new boundary, stick to it and back it up. In other words walk the talk. You must congruently and consistently commit to your own boundaries if you ever expect others to respect them.
Setting boundaries is a matter of choice and necessity. You don’t need to give endless explanations to justify your newly established boundary(s), just a clear and direct one. Boundaries are beliefs you hold to be true about yourself, and like beliefs, your boundaries can change and get stronger. They define who you are.
Before setting a new boundary make sure you have thought it out. Talk about your situation or concerns with others you trust and respect, and know have solid and healthy boundaries. There are support groups, your peers, counselors, and religious leaders, even those involved in legal or protective services, that can all help and support you along the way. You don’t need to do it alone.
Role playing also helps in building the strength and courage to move forward with newly established boundaries. Enter a meditative state and imagine yourself, within the appropriate context, expressing to other(s) what is or is not acceptable to you in respect to behaviors, criticism, beliefs, etc., or to what extent you are willing to undertake a project or work assignment. Once stated, imagine a smooth acceptance of what you have expressed. Follow that by imagining yourself in the future as stronger, more in control of yourself and your life, happier, and above all healthier. Finally, imagine positive benefits in all areas for you and all concerned.
Healthy boundaries provide the insurance you need for you to get from where you are to where you want to be safely and in a healthy manner.
Laura Silva Quesada
www.MindBiz.com
Laura Silva Quesada is the daughter of Jose Silva, founder of the original Silva Mind Control. She has authored the book For Parents Only and guides people through the mental exercises in the tape series on the Silva Method. She also is the star of The Silva Method in Action video and more recently one of the authors of the Universal Mind Power audio tape program. Today, Laura is responsible for the MindBiz, LLC Product Development and Communications. She is involved in continuing research that unites the best and most useful of the concepts behind our original Mind Development programs with the latest findings from studies on the Human Mind, Intuition, Alternative Health Care, NLP, and Spirituality. She acts as the communications point for our Client and Affiliate network and is aggressively developing new and exciting programs for our Internet site and Product Store. To learn more, please visit: www.mindbiz.com