Welcome back- I’m happy you’re here! If you’re new to the Journality community, this is THE space for inspiration, healing and lots of journaling. So, grab your favorite journal and pen/pencil, and journal along if you’d like!
Today, we’re going to do a deep dive into the empowering practice of Setting Boundaries. *Insert applause*. As you may or may not know, boundaries are essential for maintaining healthy relationships, supporting personal growth, and protecting our emotional well-being. Since we’re big journalers here, journals can be a powerful tool for us to use as we process and create boundaries in our lives. We can explore, establish, and maintain boundaries in various areas, fostering a deep connection with our true selves and healing past traumas along the way! But wait, what is a boundary? Boundaries are like invisible fences that define the limits of our physical, emotional, and mental space. They serve as a protective shield, ensuring that we preserve our authenticity, values, and personal space. Boundaries also distinguish our responsibilities and differentiate between our needs and others', making for healthier relationships. They are essential for our own sanity, and for the sanity of those around us! We can also benefit from setting boundaries with ourselves! Are you working too hard, not practicing self-care, falling into negative habits? Becoming conscious of your patterns can be the first step in learning how to set healthy boundaries for yourself as well. ***STOP, Journal Time!!*** Take this opportunity to reflect on your past experiences, situations or interactions where you felt overwhelmed, hurt or compromised. Note down the emotions and thoughts you experienced during these moments. This may offer some insight into the relationships where you feel boundaries may have been crossed or the areas in your life in which your boundaries are in need of some reshaping. Ex: I felt uncomfortable when my friend showed up at my house unannounced expecting me to be available. Establishing Boundaries Now that we’ve observed some past situations where our boundaries have been crossed, we will work towards defining the behaviors that we think are acceptable and the behaviors that cross our line. Consider your values, emotional comfort, and personal priorities as you establish these boundaries. Remember, these will look different for everyone. We are creating these boundaries for our mental and emotional well-being so its important to stay honest with ourselves. Ask yourself what you are truly comfortable engaging in. Write down your new-found boundaries in your journal, making them tangible and concrete. Ex: I would like to share with my friend that I would appreciate a ‘check-in’ before showing up. Note: you do not need to explain or justify your boundaries :) Maintenance is key! Remember to be consistent with the boundaries you have set. You (and others) will not take your boundaries seriously if you are continuing to make compromises. Come back to today’s journal entry, or save it somewhere so that you can journal about your progress, challenges, and successes as you enforce your boundaries in different situations. Reflect on instances where you successfully enforced your boundaries and those where you may have waned. Be gentle with yourself- this will NOT come easy to many of us. We have years of learned behavior where we’ve catered to those around us. Celebrate your victories. Small wins are big wins and each day brings an opportunity to grow. Remember, setting and maintaining boundaries is a learning process, and it's okay to take it one step at a time! I’m proud of you. 'Healing Trauma through Boundaries’ Journaling: Journaling can be a significant tool for healing past traumas related to boundary violations. As you write about these experiences, you give yourself permission to process and release suppressed emotions- unlock memories you may not even realize you had! For many of us, these boundaries were broken when we were children. Acknowledge that it was not your fault, and you have the power to rewrite your narrative now- our stories do not define us. As you work through your emotions, visualize yourself establishing new boundaries that protect your emotional well-being and allow for genuine healing to take place. Therefore... Through journaling, introspection and self-expression, we can identify and establish boundaries in various aspects of our life, leading to personal growth and emotional well-being. Remember, it is OKAY to set boundaries, and it is crucial to honor them. You owe it to yourself to respect the boundaries you have set. I’m proud of you for staying until the end of this post and I wish you loads more journaling to come! Remember, your Journality is waiting.
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AuthorGrateful to share my love for journaling with the world and the Journality community. |