How to set Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

In the recent era, many of us talking about the importance of setting healthy boundaries in relationships as it is crucial for Health & Well-being. People are evolving day by day, when we are in need to build an inclusive society, setting healthy boundaries is essential to creating a strong community. Here are some tips to set boundaries in relationships.

What are boundaries in Relationships?

A boundary is a clear line that suggests where to stop in a relationship and it creates mutual respect between people. Boundaries create a space in your relationships where you think and act independently. This personal space has respect, comfort, and limits.

Setting boundaries is important in both personal and professional relationships in order to build a healthy relationship.

How to Set Healthy Boundaries in Relationships with Examples?

Here is the step-by-step guide which helps you to set boundaries in relationships. Setting boundaries is actually a part of the self-care act.

Know Yourself first:

The first step is Self-awareness. Introspect deeply, about what you want in life, what you need, what you expect, what are your values, beliefs & opinion, your reactions, impulses, and how you behave. Understand yourself wholly and take an initiative to communicate.

Communication:

Communication plays a crucial role in setting boundaries for both personal and professional relationships. Your communication should be Assertive i.e exercising your own rights without denying others. This is the place where you should practice saying “No” and remember saying “NO” is neither defending nor offending. It’s a basic right you have!!

E.g: You don’t feel comfortable sitting close to the opposite sex. When someone sits next to you, instead of telling that it is bad or good, just communicate with them, I don’t feel comfortable so I am moving or I don’t feel comfortable, would you please sit on the other side? – Physical Boundaries

Even in sexual relationships, you can tell them that you don’t feel good to have sex on that day. – Sexual Boundaries

Active Listening:

Setting Healthy boundaries is a two-way street, when you want something, you should give first!! The basic attitude of effective communication is “Listening”, practice listening to work for a win-win situation. Respect others’ words, values, and opinions while understanding that you don’t have to compromise your own values, beliefs, and opinion.

Take responsibility for your Emotions – Don’t blame & Refuse blame:

If you feel hurt by others’ actions that are not relevant to your part, you have to take responsibility for your emotions and should work on Emotional regulation strategies to regulate your emotions instead of blaming others.

Similarly, you don’t need to apologize unnecessarily and please others for not committing anything wrong. – Emotional Boundaries

If your close ones blaming you for their emotional instability, help them to overcome their emotional instability through compassion & Assertive communication. – Love always wins!!

Validate Yourself – Way to set Intellectual Boundaries:

Know your values and beliefs, Respect your ideas and opinion. Similarly, you should understand everyone is having own unique values, beliefs, ideas, and opinions. Respect others’ possessions even if you don’t agree with theirs.

Many times in close relationships, in order to please them, in order to be liked by them, you may agree with your partners’ ideas and opinion even though it is not aligned with your values. Don’t do that, at one point because of frustration, you may ruin your relationship. Just be true to yourself, so that you can build trust in relationships

Open up, Don’t suppress your Financial constraints – Way to Financial Boundaries:

This happens to many of us. You don’t have enough money in your pocket, but you said Ok to your friend who wishes to eat at a star restaurant. What is the purpose?!! Nothing, in fact, it gives additional problems to you. Don’t feel shy, just open up and tell them that you don’t have enough money to go there.

Similarly, you can buy a gift for your loved ones based on your current status. There is no need to be in debt to buy a gift!! The gift itself is invaluable, there is no value based on the price of the gift. So feel free to share what you can afford with your loved ones.

Take away:

Healthy boundaries bring mutual respect & mutual comfort with mutual limits. If you feel controlled or manipulated by the people who are in both personal and professional relationships, it is vital to address your issues immediately. Otherwise, it may end up in stress, emotional distress, Health issues, and relationship issues.

When you want to be loved,
Practice Self-love.
When you want to practice Self-love,
Set Healthy Boundaries.
When you want to set healthy boundaries,
Know yourself first.

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