January 26, 2021

Building Good Boundaries Around Our Lives

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Boundaries are like a fence around our property, says Just a Thought clinical lead Anna Elders. 'Imagine you live on a corner section. If you don't have a fence, some people will cut corners, drop litter and damage your garden. Once you put up a fence, only people you invite can come in, and you can fully relax and be yourself.'

'Good boundaries help us define who we are, what we value and what we need in life to maintain balance,' says Anna.

Boundaries begin with ourselves. 'Our ability to set healthy boundaries relies on our own sense of self-worth, as much as it does our ability to have healthy relationships with others. When we value ourselves, we tend to also value and protect our resources like our time, money and body.'

For example, once you decide your personal time is more important to you than unrealistic expectations at work, you'll be able to have that courageous conversation with your boss about not always working late.

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