Setting emotional boundaries can be hard when the people around you are constantly pushing your boundaries. It can be frustrating and wear you down. Many people do not understand boundaries and why setting them with friends and family is crucial. Boundaries are the lines that we draw in our lives to protect ourselves from harm or from being taken advantage of. When we set boundaries, we say that we will not allow someone to cross this line. There are many reasons it is essential to set boundaries with friends and family.
What Are Emotional Boundaries
Emotional Boundaries are limits we place on how much emotion we allow ourselves to feel concerning a person or situation. It can be challenging to set boundaries because they can feel like a rejection, but they are essential for our well-being. If we don’t have any boundaries, we may become overwhelmed by the emotions of others and unable to cope. Boundaries help us to manage our feelings and stay in control. They also allow us to take care of ourselves by limiting how much emotional energy we expend.
Why Is Setting Emotional Boundaries important?
One reason is that people can take advantage of us when we let our guard down. For example, if you let your guard down with a friend and start asking you for favors that you don’t want to do, they have effectively crossed the boundary of friendship and taken advantage of you. By setting boundaries, you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of by your friends and family.
When we are close to others, it is natural to put ourselves in their shoes and think of what we would want. Unfortunately, this often leads us to do things we might not otherwise do if we only thought of ourselves. To protect ourselves from being taken advantage of, it is vital to set emotional boundaries with our friends and family.
How do you set healthy boundaries?
One way to do this is to be clear about what you are and are unwilling to do. For example, you might say that you are willing to go out once a week for drinks but nothing more. However, if your friends insist on spending all night drinking with you every time they come over, it can quickly become too much for you, and you will likely end up avoiding them or ending the friendship altogether.
There are a few things to keep in mind when setting boundaries with friends and family.
- Establish clear boundaries from the beginning. Begin by expressing your feelings honestly and clearly, without judgment. Then, let your friend or family know what is acceptable behavior and what is not. For example, you may say that you are not comfortable discussing personal problems over the phone, but that you will listen if they want to talk about something specific happening in their lives.
- Respect your boundaries. Don’t let them push you around or try to override your decisions. If they don’t respect your boundaries, likely, they won’t be able to respect yours either when it comes to other aspects of the relationship.
What Happens When You Don’t Set Emotional Boundaries?
Many people don’t understand the importance of setting boundaries in relationships. Boundaries protect both individuals in a relationship by limiting how much each person can hurt or upset the other. When boundaries are not set, either party can become frustrated, hurt, or resentful because they feel they cannot express themselves or that their feelings are not taken seriously. Setting healthy boundaries with friends and family is essential to maintaining healthy relationships.
How To Deal With People Who Aren’t Respectful Of Your Boundaries?
There are times when it feels like everyone is pushing past our boundaries. It is very important to remember that certain people aren’t respectful of our personal space. It can be hard to set boundaries with these people, but a few things can help.
One way to deal with someone who isn’t respectful of your boundaries is to ignore them. This may not be the ideal solution, but if the person isn’t respecting your space, it’s probably best not to engage with them. If they continue to push past your boundaries, you may need to take more drastic measures, such as ignoring them or leaving the situation altogether.
It’s important to remember that we have the right to set boundaries and should do so in situations where our physical and mental health is in jeopardy. You can tell someone that you have boundaries, but you cannot make them obey them. You can only control how and when you choose to react.
Setting your boundaries is essential for your health and well-being. However, remember boundaries are for you and only you. I have learned to allot about setting limits on a personal level. I am not a medical professional and individual with experience to share with my readers. Learn more about me on my about me page here 👉🏽iMarly.
