Why are Healthy Boundaries Important
In this post we will discover Why are Healthy Boundaries Important and why you should develop healthy boundaries to start feeling heard and appreciated.
The majority of people are unfamiliar with boundaries and why are healthy boundaries important. They live their lives feeling unheard and unappreciated, unsure how to change it.
By learning about healthy boundaries and implementing them into your life, you’ll feel more in control of your own life and be able to live with greater serenity and joy.
1. Why are Healthy Boundaries Important
“When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.”
Brené Brown
Many people are unhappy with their lives and don’t understand why. This situation happens because they don’t have healthy boundaries set.
Healthy Boundaries are important because they help to protect us and make us feel safe. They help us to feel seen and valued.
Therefore, we may frequently feel exploited and overwhelmed when there are no limits in place. Having sound boundaries is critical if you want to be able to enjoy life.
There are several significant benefits of establishing healthy boundaries
- The first is that boundaries safeguard us from being taken advantage of or overwhelmed.
- We may become overburdened with others and circumstances if we don’t set any limits.
- Having healthy limits allows us to feel safe and secure.
- Feeling more confident when we understand our boundaries and what we are willing to do or not.
- Having healthy limits allows us to be heard and acknowledged(when people in our lives respect our boundaries and others recognise the effort we make to establish good ones).
2. What are the Main Types of Boundaries
2.1 Physical Boundaries
Physical boundaries are the boundaries that protect our bodies. These boundaries offer us the freedom to set clear limits for who can touch us and how we want to be touched.
For example, we may have a bodily barrier that prohibits others from touching us without our consent. Also, we may also have a physical boundary restricting how close someone may come to us. This line keeps us safe from harm.
I utilise a two-step methodology when dealing with a customer who is having difficulty establishing healthy physical boundaries.
The first step
The first step is to assist the client in becoming aware of their personal space and how it feels when someone intrudes on it.
As well as the second stage is to aid the client in learning how to set boundaries by informing those who are intruding on their personal space about their requirements.
Take a few moments to consider the physical sensations that come with this invasion if someone breaks into your personal space. How does it make you feel in your body? Is your breath shortened and shallow? Do you find yourself moving away from the other person, leaning back or even getting up suddenly.
Imagine what would happen if you kept experiencing this feeling for 24 hours each day after you notice a feeling that frequently comes along with someone crossing your physical limitations. What impact would this have on your emotions? What can you do to set a boundary with someone who keeps contravening it?
Furthermore, we can begin to comprehend what having healthy physical boundaries feels like by becoming aware of the feelings that appear in our bodies when limits are disturbed. This is the first step toward establishing new, positive boundaries. After that, we must figure out how to tell others who are breaking them that they have crossed a boundary.
The second step
In the second step of establishing a new boundary, I usually advise my client to compose a letter or make a phone call to someone who has repeatedly intruded on their personal space and express how they feel in one concise statement. “When you stand one feet away, I can hear you better. It can help the client to stay focused on the problem at hand and can also help them express themselves more clearly.
Then, I have them read the letter out loud, so that they hear how it sounds and know whether or not the person they mailed it to will understand what is happening. Then we set up a time for the client to call and make sure they follow through with the phone call.
Once the client has made the phone call, we can begin to talk about what went well and how they felt during the process. At this point the client is much more likely to establish healthy physical boundaries in their life as they understand what those boundaries will feel like both physically and emotionally for themselves.
2.2Emotional Boundaries
Emotional boundaries are the boundaries that protect our emotions. They help us to define who we share our emotions with and how much we share. For example, we may have an emotional boundary that states that we do not want to share all of our emotions with just anyone. Additionally, we may have an emotional boundary that dictates how much emotion we express when around other people. This boundary helps ensure that there is never too much or too little emotion in a situation and keeps us from becoming overwhelmed.
I helped a client to successfully set up her emotional boundary by having a conversation with her about the importance of setting boundaries and how they can help protect her emotions. We talked about what an emotional boundary is and how it can help regulate the amount of emotion she shares with others. Then, she decided to stop expressing her feelings regarding family matters with strangers, even if it means that the relationship may end sooner than expected.
2.3 Mental Boundaries
Mental boundaries are the boundaries that protect our thoughts and minds. They help us to define who we share our thoughts and minds with and how much we share.
For example, we may have a mental boundary that states that we do not want to reveal all of our secrets or personal information with just anyone.
Additionally, we may have a mental boundary that states how much of our time we spend thinking about other people’s lives. This boundary helps ensure that there is never too much or too little attention on other people and keeps us from becoming overwhelmed.
Few months ago, I had another client seeking guidance to set up new healthy boundaries. We talked about what a mental boundary is and how it can help regulate the amount of attention he spends on other people’s lives.
He then decided on a mental boundary- to spend only 30 minutes each day thinking about other people’s lives, instead of the hours he was spending before. He learned to protect his thoughts and manage his time more wisely.
3. Why does Having a Strong sense of Self-awareness and Setting Your Own Limits Make for a Happier Life
Tara Brach
“The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom.”
When you have a strong sense of self-awareness, you are able to set your own limits. Thus, with this knowledge, you can create healthy boundaries. These boundaries allow you to enjoy the positives in life without being overwhelmed by the negatives.
Having a strong sense of self-awareness and knowing what makes you unhappy is a gift. Why? Because, these are the two things that people spend their whole lives looking for without ever finding them.
Having boundaries on your negative traits gives you back control in your life and allows you to enjoy the good things in life.
There are a few things that you can do to make it easier to set your healthy boundaries
- First, you can remind yourself that it is okay to say no. You are not obliged to please everyone all the time and it is perfectly acceptable to put your needs first.
- Second, you can communicate your boundaries clearly and respectfully. This will help the person making the request understand why are saying no and avoid any misunderstandings.
- Finally, you can practice saying no and remember that it is okay to be assertive. Saying no can feel empowering and give you back a sense of control.
4. Why is Important to Set Healthy Boundaries with Your Inner Voice
Your inner voice is the part of you that speaks to you in your mind. This voice can be helpful or harmful, depending on the messages it sends. If your inner voice is negative, it can make you feel bad about yourself and doubt your abilities. If your inner voice is positive, it can help you feel confident and capable. To maintain yourself positive you need to apply daily self-care and keep inspired. Learn more here about how to apply self-care daily to feel more confident, connected with your inner voice and self.
5. What Would Happen Without Having Healthy Boundaries
Most people need boundaries to live a healthy and happy life.
We would be miserable and inundated with feelings of overwhelm and negativity without them. Without boundaries, we would become victims of circumstance without this sense of control the establishment of our personal limitations allows us to have over our lives! In many ways, boundaries are necessary for survival as they provide an outlet through which we can maintain the best version of ourselves. To find out more ways on how to overcome feelings of overwhelm and negativity check out the latest post on 8 Steps on How to Let Go of Negative Emotions.
6. How to Identify Your Healthy and Unhealthy Boundaries
There are a few ways that you can identify your healthy and unhealthy boundaries
- First, you can ask yourself whether or not you feel comfortable setting the limit.
- Second, you can ask yourself whether or not the limit is respectful of both you and the other person.
- Third, you can ask yourself whether or not the limit is reasonable and achievable. If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you are likely dealing with an unhealthy boundary.
Final Thoughts on Why are Healthy Boundaries Important
Why are Healthy Boundaries Important is an introductory post into the importance of healthy boundaries for developing a happy life.
The main types of boundaries were given with examples with the importance of setting healthy boundaries for our inner voice. As result, it can be tough to set personal limitations, but it is worth it to maintain our best selves.
I’ve created a worksheet on how you can identify your healthy and unhealthy boundaries, also how to reinforce healthy boundaries for a happier you. You can download my free worksheet Here.
I hope you have enjoyed my article and learnt some new things about why it’s necessary to set healthy boundaries and how to do so.
Feel free to share this post with your friend and anyone who might be interested.
Let me know what do you think about establishing healthy boundaries, and what are they?
Stay Blessed, as You Are!
Your Sincerely,
Emilia x
Award-Winning Author, Intuitive Mindset Coach and Creator of Take Action Now Transformational Program
2 Comments