Boundaries in a relationship
Boundaries in Dating & Relationships**
No matter the relationship resources you explore, discussing boundaries is essential. They are crucial for maintaining healthy connections and ensuring we feel safe and happy.
Today’s workshop aims to enhance your awareness of your own boundaries, fostering a positive energetic relationship with them—whether you’re single, dating, or married for years. I will share numerous examples to clarify this concept.
**What Are Boundaries?**
Boundaries are limits you set regarding what you will accept or reject concerning others’ words, behaviors, and actions.
Think of boundaries as a healthy fence surrounding you, defining where you end and where another begins, along with the rules that must be respected for a healthy relationship to thrive.
Some boundaries are socially understood, such as:
– No one should grab your body in public—that’s a common boundary that ideally needs no communication. (Hopefully! :D)
– Your partner must not hit you or verbally abuse you. This is a societal norm that should be respected. However, in toxic relationships, individuals may find themselves having to express these boundaries, which is unhealthy.
– Another example is not humiliating or publicly criticizing your partner and refusing to accept such treatment in return. Ideally, this shouldn’t require explicit communication, but it sometimes does based on the awareness of the person involved.
In addition to these social norms, personal boundaries are unique to you. They are rules based on what works for your comfort and well-being.
Boundaries are often seen as rules, but there’s a thin line between rules, boundaries, and walls. While we never want to build walls, establishing boundaries ensures we are not doormats in our relationships.
Having self-esteem means knowing what makes us feel good and what doesn’t. By implementing boundaries, we assert that we won’t accept behaviors that harm our self-worth. We can love our partners, but we must love ourselves first. I will treat you with the respect I give myself, and I expect the same in return.
It’s crucial that boundaries also reflect our personal needs. For instance, I know I need to go to the gym three times a week to be a better partner. I also need to meet friends once or twice a month and see my family every other Sunday.
These are things you can openly communicate with your partner; they are essential aspects of maintaining a healthy relationship.
These are things you can openly communicate with your partner; they are essential aspects of maintaining a healthy relationship.
When it comes to boundaries, it’s about prioritizing your needs. If your partner expresses concern about you spending too much time with friends or family, having those boundaries allows you to respond confidently. You might say, “You may not like this, but I need this time, and if you can’t accept it, this relationship may not be right for us.”
Ultimately, asserting your boundaries is essential for maintaining your well-being and ensuring that both partners can coexist happily.
Siobhan
06th Nov 2024 | 4 min read
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