Setting boundaries. Ooph. It’s one of the toughest for me. Every time I assert myself and set a boundary, I am visited by a trifecta of guilt, negative self talk, and feelings of being a “bad person.” But...boundaries are rad. They actually tell people - and remind myself - what I want and what I am comfortable with. And I gotta keep reminding myself that any person or any institution that’s not willing to respect my boundaries is not worth my energy. Which doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when my safety lines are crossed or my self-care rules are questioned. It still hurts a heck of a lot. The peace...it just might be worth the hurt, though.
The word BOUNDARIES is hand-drawn in black, each letter in a different grey circle. The circles overlap to form a jagged horizontal line. Around the line is a circle of orange-and-white striped hazard blocks. Around the blocks is yellow caution tape that is twisted. Text on it reads “Do not cross.” Around the tape is a black barbed wire fence.
