Setting Healthy Boundaries
A healthy boundary is a clear, conscious limit set to safeguard one's physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual well-being. It defines acceptable behavior and interactions with others while outlining responses if those limits are crossed. Healthy boundaries are firm yet adaptable, rooted in self-awareness, and guided by respect for oneself and others.
Boundaries help protect and assert what lies within an individual's "domain of control," including:
● What we have a "Right To": Our bodily autonomy, thoughts, feelings, desires, and fantasies.
● What we are "Responsible For": Our communication, behaviors, actions, reactions, and overall health and well-being.
To fully embody healthy boundaries, somatic awareness—being attuned to your bodily sensations in the present moment—is essential. Connecting with your instinctual “Yes! Maybe. No!” responses and prioritizing slowness can guide you through exploring personal limits and maintaining balance.
Characteristics of Healthy Boundaries:
● Clarity: Clearly expressing personal needs, limits, and expectations without ambiguity.
● Self-Responsibility: Focusing on controlling your own actions, choices, and responses.
● Respect: Balancing your well-being with consideration for others' autonomy and needs.
● Flexibility: Adapting to circumstances while staying aligned with core values.
● Protection: Guarding against harm—physical, emotional, or psychological.
Examples of Healthy Boundaries:
● Saying "no" without guilt.
● Taking personal space or time when needed.
● Walking away from situations or interactions that feel unsafe or unhealthy.
● Explicitly communicating needs and desires to foster mutual understanding.
Healthy boundaries empower individuals to engage authentically with others while maintaining their integrity, safety, and sense of self-worth. For deeper exploration, visit Dr. Betty Martin’s
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