Being able to say “no” to certain things in life can be challenging. You don’t want to make anyone angry or you don’t want to feel guilty for disagreeing with a friend. When you put everyone else’s needs ahead of your own, you forget the most basic rule: do what brings you the most joy. You become so preoccupied with making sure that everyone in your immediate environment is content that you lose sight of what you truly desire out of life. Not being able to set appropriate boundaries can be linked to common concerns such as low self-esteem, a need for praise from others, learnt helplessness, or a fear of rejection or criticism.
Saying “no” to someone, stating that the way you were handled has upset you, or communicating that you do not intend to go along with a friend’s plan can see intimidating at first. However, the necessity of learning to say no and establishing these healthy boundaries is crucial for your personal well-being and happiness, otherwise you become so busy trying to satisfy other people you don’t speak up for yourself.
Learning to set healthy boundaries enables you to strike a balance between your own sentiments and those of the others in your life. This is not about being self-centred or not considering other people’s requirements. On the other hand, they can walk all over you simply because you articulated how you felt. These individuals are simply not good enough to be a part of your life if they are irritated by the fact that you establish boundaries for them and they do not like it. This may be harsh, but it is the truth.
There are mental and physical benefits associated with setting good boundaries:
- By establishing clear expectations and limits, you will be able to create healthy relationships and protect your mental health.
- You may avoid suffering from burnout and maintain a good level of physical health if you give your own needs and time the priority they deserve.
- You will also experience an increase in your self-esteem and self-respect if you place a high value on your own energy.
By doing some of these things, you may protect yourself from unnecessary stress, sadness, and burnout by setting boundaries. Boundaries enable you to navigate people and life. They are about protecting yourself from these things and creating a life that allows you to accomplish all you want.
These boundaries are not about being aggressive; it’s about being assertive and knowing your own worth; they are rules on how others should treat you and how you are expecting to be treated. Also, you can only be there for others when you feel empowered in yourself and strong, so to be a good friend, partner, or family member, you must set boundaries to achieve that. You get to live life on your own terms and repect what you inherently do/don’t want to do.
“No” is a complete sentence. It is a lifelong habit that we must diligently practise in order to attain our professional and personal goals. Accept the discomfort of being uncomfortable at first, because only you can take the first step towards establishing a life of fulfilment, happiness, and peace of mind.