How to build healthy personal boundaries and maintain them

What are personal boundaries?

Personal boundaries are basically limits that you should and want to set on how a person behaves towards you and what you expect from a person. They are the lines that you draw to understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable from the other person.

Personal boundaries can be set in absolutely any area of your life. It can be set on how other people treat you, what other people should expect from you, at what time you would pick up the calls etc. It can also be applied to personal space, sexual interaction, religion, communication etc.

Personal boundaries are very essential, especially to any thriving relationship. They are like fences and walls that you build in the physical world to know where you can and cannot go. Personal boundaries are important because they stop people from using you or manipulating you. They are important to maintain your comfort and space. Your boundaries can expand and contract as per the time but you must never let anyone cross the line.

How to set personal boundaries?

· Determine your values

Values are the driving force of your life. Your life is based entirely on the values you own. So understand your values and set your boundaries accordingly. If you think, you need to have more personal time set your boundaries around your personal time, don’t let anyone interfere in your private space.

· Listen to your feelings

When you don’t understand where exactly to set boundaries, take help if your feelings. Things that make you feel nervous, scared or sad you must set your boundaries there. Don’t let anyone hurt you. Anything that creates discomfort should be avoided unless the discomfort brings something good to you.

· Learn to say no

Many people are unable to set boundaries because they can’t say no. You must learn to say no, it’s your basic human right. You might be doing favours on people to please them or attending gathering due to fear of missing out. We often behave or act in order to not hurt someone’s feelings. It’s time that you start thinking about yourself and say no to things that you don’t want to do.

· Set consequences

Set consequences, they don’t need to be harsh. But you must set consequences for those who trespass the boundaries. Let people know the consequences of crossing the line. The impacts are effective than the rule. People don’t follow the rule because it’s a rule they follow it because of the punishment they would get to break the rule.

If you don’t want someone to overstep your personal boundaries, you must set the consequences.