By: Muqadas Jabeen
Setting healthy boundaries in any relationship helps you to maintain your peace and identity. Otherwise, you will have to be in distress in your relationships. These relations will ultimately drain out your energy. Therefore, boundaries are essential to protect your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. If you outline the individual’s rights and limit certain behaviors, you can foster a healthy and long-lasting relationship.
Boundaries may vary from person to person and culture to culture. What is casual in one culture could be inappropriate in another. Social context also plays a big role in this. For example, boundaries that are suitable for a business setting would be considered absurd in friends’ gatherings. Boundaries will keep us safe from unwanted expectations in general relations. These are not limited to general relationships only. Boundaries are also crucial in friendships.
Friends are a beautiful aspect of life. They are not a part of our family, but we share a mutually trusting bond with them. They are the ones with whom we can share our deepest emotions. They are the ones who provide us with love and support and keep us nurtured in our lives.
To set a healthy boundary, you have to be vocal about yourself. Feel free to say what you want; what is your choice? What are the things you want to keep in your life, and what are the other things you want others to stay out of? It’s solely up to you how much of your personal life anyone can share with others. It would help if you always had to keep your mental peace as the priority. If you are not feeling comfortable, if you are overwhelmed, say no to other affairs. It is okay to say no to your friends.
Sometimes, things become out of control. They lose their balance. If they always come to you for moral support and you are not feeling well enough to meet their demands, it is a sign that you must have certain limitations in your relationship. In other words, if you feel resentful, it may be a time to draw a line between you and your friend. If someone, it could be your friend or colleague, constantly inquiries about something you don’t want to discuss don’t compromise on discussing it. It is okay to say “no” to them.
Assertiveness is the best way to set your boundaries. Be clear in your ways. But you have to take good care of your language. Setting boundaries doesn’t mean you attack someone by your words. Your words should be clear but respectful. If you are not comfortable with something, let the other person know. You can opt for a role-play in this regard. It would be a thoughtful approach.
Our lives revolve around people’s interactions. We meet many people daily. Some are friends, some are colleagues, and some are strangers. Interactions impact our personality and life. To live
a positive life, it is crucial to set healthy boundaries. They help us prevent resentment.
It is another form of self-care. For example, your friends always demand to have a weekend party, but if you want to spend some time alone with other engaging activities like reading or meditating, you can decline such invitations. You don’t have to overcommit yourself. Keep one thing in mind: boundaries are not static. They can be modified as per requirement. You don’t have to be so rigid that you might lose a precious relationship. You must bring flexibility to your personality for a peaceful and prosperous life.