Curating Boundaries

Boundaries…a term often spoken about, yet often ignored when it comes to certain people or situations in our lives. For some of us, creating boundaries with work or family seems daunting, yet it may be crucial for our over all well-being and happiness. It is also important to remember that creating boundaries should be healthy and productive for you, whilst not harming others in your life. An example of this could be to stop being so available for certain family members to call your and constantly ask for help. However, that does not mean you neglect their safety, it is more about finding a level of communication that is healthiest for you.

Often, when we have decided to try and implement boundaries in our lives, we need to express our thoughts and feelings in a safe place. Writing in our own journal provides us such a place.

Is there a person or situation that comes to mind? Spend some time writing down all that comes to mind, do not filter your thoughts.

What is driving you to want to change the situation? Are there specific emotions or feelings that are pushing this change?

What emotions arise when you are in the situation or with the person? How does this make you feel now, upon reflection?

How can you realistically create boundaries? If it is with a family member, what you you want to say to them? Write it down with no filter.

Now write down a way you think might work best, either directly telling them or creating a boundary indirectly.

Why is creating a boundary important to your mental wellbeing? Visual how it would look in your day to day life. Writing down the importance of this will provide clarity of why you are feeling this way.

Come back to this practice whenever you feel you need to more clarity and help when creating your boundaries. It might take practice to enforce boundaries, give yourself grace. Over time it may be easier, taking the first step shows how much you care about your own well being.