Boundaries bring order to our lives. As we learn to strengthen our boundaries, we gain a clearer sense of ourselves and our relationship to others. ~Anne Katherine
The invisible boundary around each of us is called a comfort zone and it is flexible. We extend and extract our boundary depending upon how we emotionally respond to another person. If we feel safe, we will embrace the person, allowing them to step closely to us. If we feel insecure or threatened by a person, we will stretch our boundary farther out, to keep our distance.
Emotional boundaries are defined by ideas, feelings, values, wishes, and perspectives that are uniquely our own beginning to form in infancy. We become empowered by having healthy boundaries that protect us.
By respecting our own boundaries we give ourselves permission to say yes or no. When our boundaries are not respected, we are placed in a position to experience judgment, pressure to conform, or any kind of abuse ... emotional, sexual or physical.
The worst thing we can do to ourselves is to say "yes" when we really mean "no". It misleads others, but worse yet, we suffer the consequences of not honoring our true nature. We do not always speak our truth preserving our boundaries out of fear of rejection or from feeling unworthy.
In her book, BOUNDARIES, Where You End and I Begin,
Anne Katherine explores how to strengthen our personal boundaries and what we can do when they are being violated.
By respecting and honoring our authentic set of boundaries, we will develop healthier relationships and a greater sense of self.
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