01Mar

Boundaries: Please Stop Here—The Practical Side

“I walk in freedom in the path you have set for me.” This quote is paraphrased from King David in the Old Testament. Whether or not you believe in the book of the Bible, this quote is a great depiction of the freedom that exists inside healthy boundaries. If we know exactly where a boundary lies, we have freedom to move about in confidence.

Another example is this. A study was done in which younger, school age children were told to play outside during free time, but not told how far they could stray from teachers and staff. The group played, but stayed closer to staff and would not venture very far out. A second group of school age children was taken outside to play and shown exactly how far they could go from staff during play time. Visual markers were set up to demonstrate the boundaries. This group played more freely, moved around the play area and did not hover near the teachers and staff. They felt freer to roam because they knew how far they could safely go.

It is unsettling for human beings to not have a clear understanding of boundaries in life. We do better with clear expectations, rhythm and routine. While we know this to be true, many of us struggle with setting boundaries in our lives whether it is personally, professionally or both. This is because setting boundaries is often not fun. And yet, it is necessary.

I will speak more to boundary setting in the personal blog on this piece, but for now, take inventory and ask yourself if there are any people in your life you need to set boundaries with. The boundary could involve time, emotional space, energy, money, material objects or any other life area where you feel you need more peace or distance.

If you are struggling to create healthy personal boundaries in any area of your life, we can help. Our trained and experienced mental health counselors can help you identify and set boundaries and even gain insight into your closest relationships and what they need to heal, grow and flourish. Please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services today at 407-443-8862 to schedule an appointment. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yolanda Brailey