​3 reasons to set boundaries.

1) Master self-awareness.

As you begin to implement boundaries take a look inward and ask yourself a few important questions:

• What are the values that you live by?
• How do you want to treat the people in your life?
• How do you want others to treat you?

The answers to these questions will help you decide who you want to set boundaries with and how you will set them. Establishing a strong sense of self-awareness will remind you that no matter how important people are in your life, when it comes to self-care you must always come first.  

2) Improve communication skills.

Are you a mind reader? That’s ok, no one is, not even the paid professionals headlining in Vegas. Don’t expect the people in your life to “just know.” You have to tell someone what you like or don’t like in order for them to get it. When you set boundaries you have to verbalize your thoughts and feelings. This may be difficult talking about your feelings can sometimes feel vulnerable, but if you don’t express your limits people won’t know where you draw the line in the sand and will most likely step over it.  

3) Be able to say “no.”

​Using a healthy “no” in a relationship is just as important has selflessly giving. When we struggle saying no we are ultimately telling ourselves “we don’t matter.” It is ok to say no, especially when you mean it. Here is an exercise for you. Put yourself in a situation where you know you’ll be asked to do something you don’t want to do. Now, take this opportunity to practice saying “no.” Test out what your brain is tricking you into believing will happen. Would it be worth taking that risk if you knew it was the one thing getting in the way of you having an awesome relationship?