Self Love 101: Creating Healthy Boundaries
Self-Love and Finding Balance
The most important relationship you have is your relationship with yourself. Like all relationships, this one requires nourishment and love, work and care. You might think prioritizing self-love and self-care feels selfish or unnecessary, but taking care of yourself is vital to your wellbeing.
Though self-care and self-love sound the same, they have different definitions. Self-love is all about cultivating gratitude and accepting towards yourself, and self-care - which is a form of self-love - refers to the actions of taking care of yourself physically and mentally. Both are necessary in your achieving a balanced, healthy lifestyle. In this article, we are going to break down one of the most important factors of self-love AND self-care: creating healthy boundaries.
What are Boundaries?
Boundaries are lines, physical or metaphysical, that are set down to separate what is yours and what is someone else's. They are statements of intent that protect you from the demanding push and pull of life.
Personal boundaries establish a firm sense of right and wrong regarding your own comfort, safety, personal space, emotions and feelings. If someone asks you to do something you are not comfortable with, with positive boundaries in place, you will find a kind way to say no.
What Does Setting Boundaries Look Like?
Personal boundaries are vital for establishing a sense of self-worth and living a balanced life. By asking yourself direct questions about what you are comfortable with and uncomfortable with, the path to setting boundaries will lead you closer to who you are and what you want.
There are many types of boundaries including personal, physical, relationship, conversational, and time. Boundaries are unique and vary person to person but a few examples could include:
- Letting someone you’re dating know what your expectations are for the relationship.
- Telling a potential client that you need a deposit before beginning the work.
- Turning your phone on Do Not Disturb when you need a break.
- Telling a toxic family member how their behavior is harming you and explaining why.
- Saying “no” when asked to help a friend when you don’t have the emotional capacity.
Setting Boundaries 101
Keep these things in mind while on the quest of setting boundaries:
Boundaries are not set in stone
Say it with us: FLEXIBILITY! Like most aspects of life, boundaries are going to ebb and flow. What you needed last year surely is different than what you need right now! Make sure to check in with yourself on a consistent basis to make sure you are assessing and reassessing what healthy boundaries look like for you.
Boundaries are totally unique
Your boundaries will not look like anyone else's and that’s why they are . Your boundaries reflect your personal needs and comfortability so it’s okay if they look different than your partner or coworkers.
Boundaries take practice
Like all good things, boundaries come with time. If you are a total people pleaser who has a tough time saying no, it might take a while to feel totally comfortable setting boundaries and finally saying no. We are here to tell you, it's totally worth the wait!
Remember to respect others’ boundaries
You might begin to notice boundaries set by other people now that you are setting firm, healthy boundaries for yourself. Keep in mind that all of our boundaries look different and what is important to someone else might not be important to you. You still need to respect and adhere to that person's lines.
On the Road to Boundaries and Balance
Taking care of yourself is vital to your wellbeing, how you show up in the world, and how confident you feel. Boundaries are just one action you can take today that will help you along your discovery of self-love and self-care.
There are many additional actions you can take to get closer to that balanced whole body health we all want (and deserve). Exercising, getting better sleep, going outside, and mindful food intake are just a few. Incorporating CBD into your wellness routine can aid your body in its natural quest towards peace and balance as well! Wherever you are on your journey, know that we are with you and support your journey towards self-love.
Want to chat about self-love? Do you have any tips or questions about setting and respecting boundaries? We want to hear from you! Leave a question or comment below, or reach out to us directly at support@venacbd.com.