The Importance of Establishing Healthy Boundaries

Why Do We Need to Establish Boundaries?"obedient" This is a problem for many women raised in
Let's start off by gaining a clear understanding of thedysfunctional families, as it has taught us to become
definition of a boundary. A Boundary reflects your"people pleasers" and can might also take us down
personal desires with a definite consequence fromthe path towards co-dependency.
crossing or not respecting a set boundary. ForAs a child growing up in a generation where "Children
example: "If you touch me in an inappropriate manner,are Seen and not Heard" or were taught to be
our relationship will end" Is a boundary. Broken down, it"Obedient" I have come to know that I never
clearly states that you have a personal desire to notestablished any sort of boundaries and because of
be physically hurt by someone you love and thethis, I have suffered most of my young adult life from
consequence for crossing the boundary is I will leaveall forms of abuse. It hasn't been until recently, that I
you.learned how to establish boundaries in my own life. So
Boundaries are not only important for adults, but alsonow, when I truly want to say No to someone, I Do!
as a parent raising children. Our children's trust isHyposis can help us to learn to love ourselves enough
developed between the ages of 3-6 years of age.& to break free from some of those old,
Teaching young children your boundaries will help themout-dated beliefs so we can begin to establish healthy
to grow up with a sense of knowing that "If I do this,boundaries by placing suggestions of self-love,
this is what I can expect" It is important to the stagesself-worth, etc into our subconscious minds. It also,
of the child's development to learn what boundariesenables you to return to a younger age and inserting
you have set for the child, but as the child grows, it'sassertiveness towards a family member or members
also important that you, as the parent, teach them howwhich, then, enables us to have the self-confidence to
to establish healthy boundaries as they move into thebegin establishing safe, healthy boundaries.
young, teenage years.Let's not confuse boundaries with walls....Walls are a
What boundaries do you have for yourself? Maybe,defense mechanism we put into place to push people
you don't have any boundaries at all or maybe, youaway so we don't get hurt. Walls, like onions, can be
don't enforce the consequences. This happensknocked down, peeled away creating the path
sometimes because as children we were taught to betowards establishing healthy boundaries.