Hi and welcome to another Elevator Talk Podcast! Today's topic is all about setting boundaries and the importance of doing so.
Do you feel burned out trying to keep other people happy? Do you let people walk all over you because you’re afraid to stand up for yourself?
I’m sure there are people you respect because they don’t take nonsense from anyone. They’re not afraid to say no, and they do it with such poise and grace. So why do you feel such resistance when it comes to standing up for yourself?
Often times we don’t say no to people because we’re afraid it might offend them or create tension in a relationship. We’re taught to be kind to others, but we ultimately need to find the balance between being kind and being firm. Otherwise, we give others permission to take advantage of us.
Standing up for yourself and your time can make a huge impact on your well-being and life satisfaction.
As this is a topic many of us struggle with, let’s discuss the art of boundary setting so we can spend less energy on people-pleasing.
The Importance Of Setting Boundaries:
Many of us recognize that we are people-pleasers even though we don’t want to be. We say yes to parties we don’t want to go to, coffee runs that don’t fall under our job description, and weekend getaways with friends that we can’t afford.
Despite not wanting to be a people-pleaser, you continue to fill the role because you don’t want to hurt people’s feelings. You don’t want people thinking you’re rude or disrespectful.
The thing is that you’re actually disrespecting yourself if you continue to do things out of fear or a sense of obligation.
There’s a fine line between being a good person and trying to make people think you’re a good person. You are “most likely” a good person, regardless of whether you do everything someone asks you do to.
7 Ways To Set Better Boundaries:
1. Get Crystal Clear On Your Priorities.
2. Communicate What You Will And Will Not Tolerate.
3. Listen To Your Gut Instinct.
4. Think About The Impact Of Your Actions.
5. Do Things Because They Make You Feel Good.
6. When Possible Offer An Alternative.
7. Be Direct And Firm With Your Answer.