If you have trouble taking up for yourself and saying no when needed, you may need to think about setting personal boundaries which will protect you from those who would take advantage of you.
Setting personal boundaries is the top method you can use to improve your life. By standing up for yourself, you’ll gain self-esteem and freedom from trying to please everyone.
You may have trouble in the beginning to assert yourself and set personal boundaries – especially if you’ve been passive in the past. If you’ve been aggressive, you may have handled boundaries with anger and lashing out. Dealing with boundaries with passive or aggressive methods isn’t good behavior.
Some of the issues you need to deal with before beginning to stand up for your personal boundaries include the following:
1.Know your boundaries. Be clear with yourself about your beliefs and values – what makes you feel uncomfortable and how you now handle situations which compromise your boundaries.
2.Use clear and concise language. After you know your boundaries, assert yourself by using clear language about how you feel when boundaries are being crossed.
3.Don’t be a yes man. Part of setting boundaries is knowing when to say no to people you work with and in your personal sphere of family and friends. You lose your personal freedom when you take on too much.
4.Pay attention to your internal boundaries. If someone offends or disrespects you, ask yourself if what was said is true. Your internal boundaries are lines drawn within yourself which prevent you from believing everything someone says about you.
5.Know your rights. You shouldn’t feel guilty about expressing yourself and asking for what you need in a respectful manner. You have every right to demand that you’re treated fairly and with respect in all areas of your life.
Begin setting personal boundaries by using simple and direct statements in a non-threatening tone. You may feel uncomfortable for a while, but you’ll soon feel a power that will make you stronger and more adept at drawing lines at behaviors you will accept – or not accept – from others.
You don’t need to debate the issues of your boundaries or explain yourself to others. Be firm and consistent in repeating your requests or statements and reinforce your actions by staying determined.
You may need to overcome guilt feelings when you begin to set personal boundaries. Remember that you should first consider yourself in any dealings and make yourself the priority – rather than someone else’s beliefs and feelings.
Eva Gregory is a Law of Attraction expert, speaker, author and mentor to spiritual entrepreneurs – coaches, healers and holistic practitioners. Her passion is helping spiritual entrepreneurs go from chaos to clarity, and from clarity to cash flow by learning how to tap into their own inner guidance and merge it with proven practical business strategies to create enlightened businesses of purpose, passion and prosperity. She is author of “The Feel Good Guide to Prosperity” and “Life Lessons For Mastering the Law of Attraction” co-authored with Jack Canfield. Get your FREE REPORT, “Massive Success For Spiritual Entrepreneurs” here. Learn more about how Eva can help you at www.EvaGregory.com
