Set Your Boundaries – Oct 2018

Such wonderful yoga this week so far. And loving the rain, we are so grateful for this big drink! And focusing on a heart opening session this week. Opening our hearts and our minds to love, to abundance, to compassion and good health. And as always coming from an empowered point of view. As yogis, it’s no good opening our hearts if we have not set limits on our personal boundaries. Shaky boundaries and a big open heart can leave us feeling drained and used. Having healthy boundaries means knowing and understanding what your limits are and having the self-respect to know when to draw the line. It’s fascinating stuff .. Read on and enjoy ..love Margot.

Building better boundaries and maintaining them takes practice and skill. For some it comes naturally, for others it’s a steep learning curve. And anyone involved in the more humane industries – teaching, nursing, health practitioners, mental health, and creative industries have to learn to set good boundaries. If you don’t you often end up facing exhaustion, burnout and anxiety. So here are some great tips to help you set good boundaries:

Name your limits

Identify your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual limits. Consider what you can tolerate and accept and what makes you feel uncomfortable or stressed.

Tune into your feelings

Two key feelings in others that are red flags or cues that we’re letting go of our boundaries: discomfort and resentment. Rate them from 1 to 10. If you’re anything from 6 up ask yourself what is causing that? What is it about this interaction, or the person’s expectation that is bothering me? Resentment usually comes from being taken advantage of or not appreciated. It’s often a sign that we’re pushing ourselves either beyond our own limits because we feel guilty or someone else is imposing their expectations, views or values on us. When someone acts in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, that’s a cue to us they may be violating or crossing a boundary.

Make self-care a priority

Give yourself permission to put yourself first. Self-care also means recognizing the importance of your feelings and honoring them. Putting yourself first also gives you the energy, peace of mind and positive outlook to be more present with others. People sense this personal power and instinctively give you more space and respect.

Start small

Like any new skill, assertively communicating your boundaries takes practice. Setting boundaries takes courage, practice and support and remember that it’s a skill you can master.

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