“
It is necessary, and even vital, to set standards for your life and the people you allow in it.
”
”
Mandy Hale (The Single Woman–Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass: Embracing Singleness with Confidence)
“
Living a connected life ultimately is about setting boundaries, spending less time and energy hustling and winning over people who don’t matter, and seeing the value of working on cultivating connection with family and close friends.
”
”
Brené Brown (Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead)
“
Friends are your chosen family, and these relationships should bring ease, comfort, support, and fun to your life—not excess drama.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
His face set in grim determination, Richard slogged ahead, his fingers reaching up to touch the tooth under his shirt. Loneliness, deeper than he had never known, sagged his shoulders. All his friends were lost to him. He knew now that his life was not his own. It belonged to his duty, to his task. He was the Seeker. Nothing more. Nothing less. Not his own man, but a pawn to be used by others. A tool, same as his sword, to help others, that they might have the life he had only glimpsed for a twinkling.
He was no different from the dark things in the boundary. A bringer of death.
”
”
Terry Goodkind (Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, #1))
“
True and real friends don’t feel the need to be praised and worshipped.
”
”
Michael Bassey Johnson
“
Who cares if the people in your life don't like the boundaries you set for yourself? Their happiness is not your responsibility
”
”
Leigh Shulman
“
Venomous friends will not adhere to boundaries set by other people. They repeatedly push right past any off-limits signs you might have established.
”
”
Shannon Thomas (Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse)
“
Setting boundaries is not a betrayal of your family, friends, partner, work, or anyone or anything else.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
When you stop striving to be seen as a good wife, friend, employee, mother or daughter, it gives you permission to realize that you are a good person not because of what you can give or provide, but because of who you are. Part of boundary setting is realizing your worth is intrinsic. We need to let go of the societal messages we have
”
”
Michelle Elman (The Joy of Being Selfish: Why You Need Boundaries and How to Set Them)
“
It reminded me of the anxiety I feel whenever I set a boundary with a friend or colleague. If they receive it gracefully or demonstrate their respect for it, I often fight an urge to express my “gratitude” by erasing the boundary.
”
”
Melissa Febos (Girlhood)
“
If your mother lived your life as though it were her own-never allowing you a moment of stress or frustration, routinely sleeping in your bed when you had a bad dream, never setting limits or establishing boundaries, seldom or never letting you out of her sight, excusing and failing to provide consequences for your negative or hurtful behaviour, insisting on a daily chronicle of every detail of your life, all in the name of maternal love-then you never had to grow up and take responsibility for your actions. You remain a child.
”
”
Victoria Secunda (When You and Your Mother Can't Be Friends: Resolving the Most Complicated Relationship of Your Life)
“
You are still a good mom if you
-forget to click a selfie with your kid
-set boundaries with your little monsters
-are not a pro at something your kids are
-cook the food your kids like rather than sucking on healthy food
-are not s friend to your kids at times because being a parent is equally important
ALL THAT MATTERS IS, YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN.
”
”
Deeksha Arora
“
I am learning to say no to my family. I am learning to say no to my friends. I am learning to say no to my work. Setting boundaries is a good thing.
”
”
The Thoughtful Beast
“
I'd written to Rhys, How do I tell Cassian and Azriel I don't need them here to protect me? Company is fine, but I don't need sentries.
He'd written back, You don't tell them. You set boundaries if they cross a line, but you are their friend- and my mate. They will protect you on instinct. If you kick their asses out of the house, they'll just sit on the roof.
I scribbled, You Illyrian males are insufferable.
Rhys had just said, Good thing we make up for it with impressive wingspans.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2))
“
TRY THIS: AUDIT YOUR TIME Spend a week tracking how much time you devote to the following: family, friends, health, and self. (Note that we’re leaving out sleeping, eating, and working. Work, in all its forms, can sprawl without boundaries. If this is the case for you, then set your own definition of when you are “officially” at work and make “extra work” one of your categories.) The areas where you spend the most time should match what you value the most. Say the amount of time that your job requires exceeds how important it is to you. That’s a sign that you need to look very closely at that decision. You’re deciding to spend time on something that doesn’t feel important to you. What are the values behind that decision? Are your earnings from your job ultimately serving your values?
”
”
Jay Shetty (Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Everyday)
“
If you run a business, please don’t sell to family members or friends on credit. Friends and family members are number on the list of people that can ruin your business. Set very clear boundaries. Do you want to be nice and poor, or do you want to be rich and wicked?
”
”
Olawale Daniel (10 Ways to Sponsor More Downlines in Your Network Marketing Business)
“
If your boundaries have been injured, you may find that when you are in conflict with someone, you shut down without even being aware of it. This isolates us from love, and keeps us from taking in safe people. Kate had been quite controlled by her overprotective mother. She’d always been warned that she was sickly, would get hit by cars, and didn’t know how to care for herself well. So she fulfilled all those prophecies. Having no sense of strong boundaries, Kate had great difficulty taking risks and connecting with people. The only safe people were at her home. Finally, however, with a supportive church group, Kate set limits on her time with her mom, made friends in her singles’ group, and stayed connected to her new spiritual family. People who have trouble with boundaries may exhibit the following symptoms: blaming others, codependency, depression, difficulties with being alone, disorganization and lack of direction, extreme dependency, feelings of being let down, feelings of obligation, generalized anxiety, identity confusion, impulsiveness, inability to say no, isolation, masochism, overresponsibility and guilt, panic, passive-aggressive behavior, procrastination and inability to follow through, resentment, substance abuse and eating disorders, thought problems and obsessive-compulsive problems, underresponsibility, and victim mentality.
”
”
Henry Cloud (Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't)
“
While it may seem empathetic to share your own similar story (“Look, I’ve been there, too!”), what it actually does is center you in the conversation, instead of allowing you to be there for your friend. The best way to be empathetic here is active listening, reflecting back what you hear your friend saying, and then asking how you can best support them.
”
”
Melissa Urban (The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free)
“
Letting go of the friendship can feel like you’re letting go of a piece of your own history—and many friendships last far longer than they should for that very reason. There’s a psychological fallacy that likely plays in here: the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It describes our tendency to stick with a task, job, or relationship because we have already invested time, effort, or money in it, regardless of how well (or not well) it’s working for us now. It’s a big part of why we continue to hold on to long-standing friendships, even if the other person is no longer a good friend. “We have history. We’ve been through a lot together! I can’t just throw that all away!” Can’t you, though?
”
”
Melissa Urban (The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free)
“
After thirty, people often experience internal shifts in how they approach friendships. Self-discovery gives way to self-knowledge, so you become pickier about the people you surround yourself with, according to Marla Paul, author of the book The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You're Not a Kid Anymore. 'The bar is higher than when we were younger and were willing to meet almost anyone for a margarita,' she says.
We tend to overthink the interactions more. 'Will they like me?' or 'Did I say the right thing?'
When we maintain a friendship for ten years or more, we become accustomed to specific roles in the relationship. Therefore, shifting our boundaries seems like a betrayal of the relationship. But people change all the time. As we grow in friendships, other areas of our lives likely grow as well.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
In the Kabbalah, the structure of human faculties takes the form of a tree with a right-hand side and a left-hand side; humanity’s task is to integrate them, both laterally and vertically.39 Specifically it is held that the mind is made up of two faculties: wisdom (chochmah) on the right, which receives the Gestalt of situations in a single flash, and understanding (binah), opposite it on the left, which builds them up in a replicable, step-by-step way. Chochmah and binah are considered ‘two friends who never part’, because you cannot have one without the other. Chochmah gives rise to a force for loving fusion with the other, while binah gives rise to judgment, which is responsible for setting boundaries and limits.40 Their integration is another faculty called da’at, which is a bit like Aristotle’s phronesis, or even sophia – an embodied, overarching, intuitive capacity to know what the situation calls for and to do it. What is more this tree is a true organism, each ‘part’ reflected in, and qualified by co-presence with, each of the others.
”
”
Iain McGilchrist (The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions and the Unmaking of the World)
“
Ah, my friends, that innocent afternoon with Larry provoked me into thought in a way my own dicelife until then never had. Larry took to following the dice with such ease and joy compared to the soul-searching gloom that I often went through before following a decision, that I had to wonder what happened to every human in the two decades between seven and twenty-seven to turn a kitten into a cow. Why did children seem to be so often spontaneous, joy-filled and concentrated while adults seemed controlled, anxiety-filled and diffused?
It was the Goddam sense of having a self: that sense of self which psychologists have been proclaiming we all must have. What if - at the time it seemed like an original thought - what if the development of a sense of self is normal and natural, but is neither inevitable nor desirable? What if it represents a psychological appendix: a useless, anachronistic pain in the side? - or, like the mastodon's huge tusks: a heavy, useless and ultimately self-destructive burden? What if the sense of being some-one represents an evolutionary error as disastrous to the further development of a more complex creature as was the shell for snails or turtles?
He he he. What if? indeed: men must attempt to eliminate the error and develop in themselves and their children liberation from the sense of self. Man must become comfortable in flowing from one role to another, one set of values to another, one life to another. Men must be free from boundaries, patterns and consistencies in order to be free to think, feel and create in new ways. Men have admired Prometheus and Mars too long; our God must become Proteus.
I became tremendously excited with my thoughts: 'Men must become comfortable in flowing from one role to another' - why aren't they? At the age of three or four, children were willing to be either good guys or bad guys, the Americans or the Commies, the students or the fuzz. As the culture molds them, however, each child comes to insist on playing only one set of roles: he must always be a good guy, or, for equally compulsive reasons, a bad guy or rebel. The capacity to play and feel both sets of roles is lost. He has begun to know who he is supposed to be.
The sense of permanent self: ah, how psychologists and parents lust to lock their kids into some definable cage. Consistency, patterns, something we can label - that's what we want in our boy.
'Oh, our Johnny always does a beautiful bower movement every morning after breakfast.'
'Billy just loves to read all the time...'
'Isn't Joan sweet? She always likes to let the other person win.'
'Sylvia's so pretty and so grown up; she just loves all the time to dress up.'
It seemed to me that a thousand oversimplifications a year betrayed the truths in the child's heart: he knew at one point that he didn't always feel like shitting after breakfast but it gave his Ma a thrill. Billy ached to be out splashing in mud puddles with the other boys, but... Joan wanted to chew the penis off her brother every time he won, but ... And Sylvia daydreamed of a land in which she wouldn’t have to worry about how she looked . . .
Patterns are prostitution to the patter of parents. Adults rule and they reward patterns. Patterns it is. And eventual misery.
What if we were to bring up our children differently? Reward them for varying their habits, tastes, roles? Reward them for being inconsistent? What then? We could discipline them to be reliably various, to be conscientiously inconsistent, determinedly habit-free - even of 'good' habits.
”
”
Luke Rhinehart (The Dice Man)
“
Four Steps to Combat Bullying
1. BE CONFIDENT. Never lose sight of the fact that God made you in His image, therefore you are amazing. You see greatness and promise in the mirror every morning. Go out into the world with your head held high and armed with self-assurance. Bullies target weakness. Your confidence disarms them.
2. SET BOUNDARIES. There is a line no one should cross, including you. Distance yourself from hostile environments and situations and avoid conflict at all cost. There is never a need for unnecessary confrontation. It will never be worth it. If you don’t give a bully an opportunity you diminish their power.
3. ARM YOURSELF WITH INTELLIGENCE. Be the smartest in the class and among your friends. Be a leader in your community and the superior athlete. Be the light. Build such a reputation of greatness, you become the blueprint everyone wants to follow. Bullies fear anyone smarter and more popular than they are, because they know that they can’t compete.
4. PROTECT YOUR ENERGY. Pay attention to the people who laugh when others make you the butt of the joke. Note the ones who do not cheer you on when you win. Be aware of the person(s) fueling the negativity, egging the bullies on, creating discord. Those people are not your friends.
”
”
Carlos Wallace
“
Then the Fool was only a role? Someone you became because it ‘suited your purpose’? And what was your purpose? To gain a doddering king’s trust? To befriend a royal bastard? Did you become what we most needed in order to get close to us?”
He was not looking at me, but as I gazed at his motionless profile, he closed his eyes. Then he spoke. “Of course I did. Make of that what you will.”
His words were like spurs to my fury. “I see. None of it was real. I’ve never known you at all then, have I?” I expected no answer and for an instant I strangled silently on my anger and insult.
Then, “Yes. You have. You more than anyone in my life.” He looked down and the stillness seemed to grow around him.
“If that is true, then I think you owe me the truth about yourself. What is the reality, Fool, not what you jest about or allow others to suspect? Who and what are you? What is it you feel for me?”
He looked at me at last. His eyes were stricken. But as I continued to gaze at him, demanding this knowledge, I saw his own anger come to life there. He suddenly stood straight and gave a small huff of disdain, as if unbelieving that I could ask. He shook his head then drew a deep breath. The words rushed out of him in a torrent. “You know who I am. I have even given you my true name. As for what I am, you know that, too. You seek a false comfort when you demand that I define myself for you with words. Words do not contain or define any person. A heart can, if it is willing. But I fear yours is not. You know more of the whole of me than any other person who breathes, yet you persist in insisting that all of that cannot be me. What would you have me cut off and leave behind? And why must I truncate myself in order to please you? I would never ask that if you. And by those words, admit the truth. You know what I feel for you. You have known it for years. Let us not, you and I, alone here, pretend that you don’t. You know I love you. I always have. I always will.” He spoke the words levelly. He said them as if they were inevitable. There was no trace of either shame or triumph in his voice. The he waited. Words such as that always demand an answer.
I took a deep breath and managed the elfbark’s black mood. I spoke honestly and bluntly. “And you know that I love you, Fool. As a man loves his dearest friend. I feel no shame in that. But to let Jek or Starling or anyone think that we take it beyond friendship’s bound, thst you would want to lie with me, is—” I paused. I waited for his agreement. It did not come. Instead, he met my eyes with his open amber gaze. There was no denial in them.
“I love you,” he said quietly. “I set no boundaries on my love. None at all. Do you understand me?
”
”
Robin Hobb (Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2))
“
Last night, as I was sleeping, I dreamt—marvellous error!— that I had a beehive here inside my heart. And the golden bees were making white cones and sweet honey from my old failures. Antonio Machado, “Last Night” (translated by Robert Bly) I once heard someone ask for the definition of adult. I can’t remember where I was, or who the speaker was who answered the question, but I’ll never forget the answer: “Adult means choice.” As children, most of us had little or no say in most matters. My generation was taught that children should be seen and not heard. We were told to “do as I say, not as I do.” We didn’t have a “vote” in family matters because we were “just children.” Picture this scenario if you will. Five-year-old Jerry has just received his umpteenth whipping or scolding. He turns to his parents and says, “You know, Mom and Dad, I choose not to be abused anymore. I’ll be taking the car keys, withdrawing some money from our joint account, and moving to Florida to live with Grandma and Grandpa. When you both start acting like adults, give me a call, and we’ll discuss the conditions of my return. We’ll see if we can settle on a mutual arrangement where you two stay adult as much of the time as possible, and I’ll be a kid who learns how to make healthy choices by being disciplined instead of punished. We’ll negotiate how you will set healthy boundaries so I can learn to do the same. For now, I’ll be seeing you. Don’t forget to write. And don’t forget to read John Lee’s book on regression. I’m too young, but you’re not.” As children, we did not have the choice of laying down the law for our frequently regressing parents. But as adults we can certainly choose to draw our boundaries and express our needs in all of our relationships as adults—not only with our parents, but also with our spouses, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.
”
”
John H. Lee (Growing Yourself Back Up: Understanding Emotional Regression)
“
I, Prayer (A Poem of Magnitudes and Vectors)
I, Prayer, know no hour. No season, no day, no month nor year.
No boundary, no barrier or limitation–no blockade hinders Me.
There is no border or wall I cannot breach.
I move inexorably forward; distance holds Me not.
I span the cosmos in the twinkling of an eye.
I knowest it all.
I am the most powerful force in the Universe.
Who then is My equal?
Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook?
None is so fierce that dare stir him up.
Surely, I may’st with but a Word.
Who then is able to stand before Me?
I am the wind, the earth, the metal.
I am the very empyrean vault of Heaven Herself.
I span the known and the unknown beyond
Eternity’s farthest of edges.
And whatsoever under Her wings is Mine.
I am a gentle stream, a fiery wrath
penetrating; wearing down mountains
–the hardest and softest of substances.
I am a trickling brook to fools of want
lost in the deserts of their own desires.
I am a Niagara to those who drink in well.
I seep through cracks. I inundate.
I level forests kindleth unto a single burning bush.
My hand moves the Universe by the mind of a child.
I withhold treasures solid from the secret stores
to they who would wrench at nothing.
I do not sleep or eat, feel not fatigue, nor hunger.
I do not feel the cold, nor rain or wind.
I transcend the heat of the summer’s day.
I commune. I petition. I intercede.
My time is impeccable, by it worlds and destinies turn.
I direct the fates of nations and humankind.
My Words are Iron eternaled—rust not they away.
No castle keep, nor towers of beaten brass,
Nor the dankest of dungeon helks,
Nor adamantine links of hand-wrought steel
Can contain My Spirit–I shan’t turn back.
The race is ne’er to the swift, nor battle to the strong, nor wisdom to the wise or wealth to the rich.
For skills and wisdom, I give to the sons of man.
I take wisdom and skills from the sons of man
for they are ever Mine.
Blessed is the one who finds it so, for in
humility comes honor,
For those who have fallen on the battlefield
for My Name’s sake, I reach down to lift them up
from On High.
I am a rose with the thorn.
I am the clawing Lion that pads her children.
My kisses wound those whom I Love. My kisses are faithful.
No occasion, moment in time, instances, epochs, ages or eras hold Me back.
Time–past, present and future is to Me irrelevant.
I span the millennia. I am the ever-present Now.
My foolishness is wiser than man’s
My weakness stronger than man’s.
I am subtle to the point of formlessness yet formed.
I have no discernible shape, no place into which the
enemy may sink their claws.
I AM wisdom and in length of days knowledge.
Strength is Mine and counsel, and understanding.
I break. I build. By Me, kings rise and fall.
The weak are given strength; wisdom to those who seek and foolishness to both fooler and fool alike.
I lead the crafty through their deceit.
I set straight paths for those who will walk them.
I am He who gives speech and sight - and confounds and removes them.
When I cut, straight and true is my cut.
I strike without fault. I am the razored edge of
high destiny.
I have no enemy, nor friend.
My Zeal and Love and Mercy will not relent
to track you down until you are spent–
even unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
I cull the proud and the weak out of the common herd.
I hunt them in battles royale until their cries unto Heaven are heard.
I break hearts–those whose are harder than granite.
Beyond their atomic cores, I strike their atomic clock.
Elect motions; not one more or less electron beyond electron’s orbit that has been ordained
for you do I give–for His grace is sufficient for thee until He desires enough.
Then I, Prayer, move on as a comet,
Striking out of the black.
I, His sword, kills to give Life.
I am Living and Active, the Divider asunder
of thoughts and intents.
I Am the Light of Eternal Mind.
And I, Prayer,
AM Prayer Almighty.
”
”
Douglas M. Laurent
“
Employing a friend Selling a service or an item to a friend Buying a service or item from a friend A close relationship with both partners of a marriage. If you share confidences with both of them, can you trust one to keep what you say from the other? If one shares a confidence that would hurt the other, what do you do?
”
”
Anne Katherine (Boundaries Where You End And I Begin: How To Recognize And Set Healthy Boundaries)
“
Perhaps your parent is still violating your boundaries—by asking inappropriate questions, by showing up uninvited, by triangulating with your partner, spouse, or children. You have the right to set the same limits with a thoughtless or intrusive parent that you’d set with a friend or a stranger. You can refuse to answer a question. You can insist that your parent come to your house only when invited and refuse to let him in if he hasn’t been invited. You can confront your spouse and your parent about triangulation.
”
”
Anne Katherine (Boundaries Where You End And I Begin: How To Recognize And Set Healthy Boundaries)
“
Instead of a hostile environment where others will despise you for your vulnerability, mistakes, and humanness, the world will start to appear more inviting, more adventurous, and friendlier. That sense of always being on the edge of rejection will begin to dissolve. You will start to feel and know on a deep level that the world is safe in many ways, that people are generally friendly, and that people generally like you and want what is best for you. If someone does not like you, then you have the ability to respond to him or her with assertiveness, by setting a boundary, or by distancing yourself. You have many options to deal with the parts of the world that are unsafe, and for the most part, you do not need to live in fear of other people.
”
”
Aziz Gazipura (The Solution To Social Anxiety: Break Free From The Shyness That Holds You Back)
“
siblings? With my in-laws? With my other relatives? Do I need to forgive any family member? How do I want to relate to my spouse or ex-spouse with respect to the upbringing of our children? What type of family life feels right to me? — My friends and social life: How much time do I want to spend with my friends and acquaintances? What types of friendships do I want to encourage? Do I prefer one or two close friends, or a group of friends? What qualities and characteristics do my friends and I have? What activities would I most enjoy undertaking with them? What changes do I want to make with the people I currently socialize with? Do I need to set or maintain boundaries with any people currently in my life? Do I need to forgive any of my present or past friends? How much time do I want to spend on the telephone with my friends? What are my true beliefs about giving help to my friends? — My hobbies and recreational life: What do I most like to do? What did I like to do for fun when I was a kid? When I was a teenager? What new hobbies or sports do I want to learn? How do I want to spend my weekends and other free time? What equipment, trips, classes, or memberships do I want to purchase? When will I use them? Where? How often? With whom? — My education: What do I want to learn? What
”
”
Doreen Virtue (I'd Change My Life If I Had More Time: A Practical Guide to Making Dreams Come True)
“
Life may test us. People may seek out our weak spots. We may see a common denominator to the limits that are being tested in our life. If we have a weak spot in one area, we may find ourselves tested repeatedly in that area by family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Life, people, our Higher Power, and the Universe may be trying to teach us something specific. When we learn that lesson, we will find that problems with that area dwindle. The boundary has been set, the power has been owned. For now, the lesson has been learned. We may need to be angry with certain people for a while, people who have pushed our tolerance over the edge. That’s okay. Soon, we can let go of the anger and exchange it for gratitude. These people have been here to help us learn about what we don’t want, what we won’t tolerate, and how to own our power. We can thank them for what we have learned. How much are we willing to tolerate? How far shall we let others go with us? How much of our anger and intuition shall we discount? Where are our limits? Do we have any? If we don’t, we’re in trouble. There
”
”
Melody Beattie (The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency (Hazelden Meditation Series))
“
Discuss netiquette.xyz internet rules to follow with friends and family. Use the site as a reference. Set boundaries. Share.
”
”
David Chiles
“
Learn to set clear boundaries and firm limits, take back your control, and realize that what your child needs most is a parent and not a friend.
”
”
Michele Borba (The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries (Child Development))
“
Wounding moments happen when others project their own perceptions onto us and we take those projections to heart. When you were young, for example, a parent or friend might have asked, “Are you going to wear that?”, or your parents might have asked you why you wanted to play volleyball or disapprovingly questioned why you were
”
”
Robert Jackman (Healing Your Lost Inner Child: How to Stop Impulsive Reactions, Set Healthy Boundaries and Embrace an Authentic Life)
“
The next day, after Sunday church services, the three girls set out in Nancy’s car, carrying a picnic lunch. On the way Nancy explained the latest developments in the mystery. She added, “Nothing must drive us away from the castle grounds until we’ve investigated every nook and corner!” Soon the familiar ivy-covered front boundary wall loomed ahead. Nancy parked beneath a cool tunnel of overhanging trees. The car was well hidden. She and her friends got out and walked to the rusty gate and peered between the bars. The
”
”
Carolyn Keene (The Clue in the Crumbling Wall (Nancy Drew, #22))
“
Find Yourself a Therapist As my colleague Anna Borges has written,13 instead of asking, “Do I need therapy?” a better question is “How might I benefit from therapy?” Therapy isn’t just for people dealing with trauma or serious mental health issues; you can also talk to a therapist about dating woes, setting boundaries with friends, tension with your parents or siblings, job stress, low-level anxiety or sadness, and pretty much anything else that’s a source of difficulty in your life. And just because you go to therapy once, you aren’t locked into going forever; it can absolutely be a shorter-term deal. If you care about being emotionally intelligent, feeling your best, and having good relationships, therapy can be a great addition to your showing-up routine. Food
”
”
Rachel Wilkerson Miller (The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People)
“
Stop asking why they keep doing it, and start asking why you keep allowing it.
”
”
Chase Hill (Healthy Boundaries: How to Set Strong Boundaries, Say No Without Guilt, and Maintain Good Relationships With Your Parents, Family, and Friends (Master the Art of Self-Improvement Book 2))
“
When domestic violence is present in a relationship, telling friends or family about the abuse can seem like a betrayal to your partner. You might be aware that your partner’s behavior is inappropriate, but you still may not be ready to leave. Telling someone could prompt others to push you to act.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
I don’t want to hurt their feelings,” but let’s start prioritizing your feelings, please. Your friend hasn’t been too concerned with them, and it’s about time that someone is. (You. That’s you.)
”
”
Melissa Urban (The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free)
“
The first step in using boundaries is to define them—to examine your life and notice where boundaries are lacking. If you don’t have boundaries, it can be hard to decide where to set them. This is totally normal. Look at the people and events in your life. When you think about having brunch with a college friend, how do you feel?
”
”
Nicole LePera (How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self)
“
LORD, This world is a broken, painful place for my son to navigate as he grows. He’ll experience physical illness and injuries. Trusted friends and family may betray his confidence. The dreams he holds for the future may crumble. Goals he works hard to achieve can end in failure. He may find himself lonely, broke, sick, or disappointed. As he looks for ways to relieve his pain or find distraction from his troubles, he may end up looking in all the wrong places. Keep my son from the trap of addiction as he seeks comfort in this world. The pleasures of food, alcohol, sex, entertainment, drugs, and money can offer a temporary diversion from the pain in his heart. But these same pleasures can become a trap that steals his freedom to live in your peace and righteousness. Don’t let my son’s heart become enslaved to anything or anyone but you. Let him find his greatest satisfaction in your presence. Give him discernment to identify temptations that come his way. May he have strength to “flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2: 22). Surround my son with believers who will encourage him to walk in your ways. Give him humility to ask for help if he’s overtaken by any sin. Open my eyes to see any areas of bondage that are developing in his life. Show me the boundaries to set to guard him from temptations that may be too hard to resist. Show my son that you are his true comfort. You offer a future of perfect peace and love with you. Your plans for him are good and perfect. You are his one true, faithful friend. You are the source of everything he needs. You hold the answers to all of his questions. Let my son live in your freedom. Keep his eyes on you. May he offer his life fully to you and obey you with all his heart. Amen.
”
”
Rob Teigen (Powerful Prayers for Your Son: Praying for Every Part of His Life)
“
Setting boundaries is not a betrayal of your family, friends, partner, work, or anyone or anything else. Not setting them, however, is a betrayal of yourself. Don’t betray yourself to please others.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
If you have never questioned set boundaries, or experienced conflict with your family members, you may not have an adult-to-adult connection with your family. If you have no other “best friends” than your family, you need to take a close look at those relationships. You may be afraid of becoming an autonomous adult.
”
”
Henry Cloud (Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life)
“
What Can You Do About a Passive Child? Parents of passive children have a double problem. These kids have the same boundary problems of irresponsibility or resistance to ownership, but it’s harder to engage them in the learning process. Here are some ways children exhibit passivity: • Procrastination. The child responds to you at the last possible moment. He finishes school tasks late and “makes” you wait in the car for him to get ready for school or other meetings. When you ask him to turn the music down or set the dinner table, a normally energetic and quick-moving child slows his pace down immeasurably. He takes enormous time to do what he doesn’t want, and little time to do what he wants. • Ignoring. Your child shuts your instruction out, either pretending not to hear you or simply disregarding you. She keeps attending to her toy, her book, or her daydreaming. • Lack of initiative and risk-taking. Your child avoids new experiences, such as meeting new friends or trying out a sport or artistic medium, and he stays in familiar activities and patterns. • Living in a fantasy world. Your child tends to be more inward-oriented than invested in the real world. He seems happier and more alive when he is lost in his head, and he retreats there at the first sign of problems or discomfort. • Passive defiance. The child resists your requests by looking blankly or sullenly at you, then simply doing nothing. She is obviously angry or contemptuous of your authority, but shows you without words. • Isolation. Your child avoids contact with others, preferring to stay in her room. Rather than confront, argue, or fight with you, she instead reacts against some problem you present by leaving you. Passive kids aren’t bad or evil. They simply have a particular way of approaching life that
”
”
Henry Cloud (Boundaries with Kids: When to Say Yes, How to Say No)
“
Sacred Rest Boundaries Emotional boundaries protect you from others’ abuse. Jesus resisted against a crowd that was trying to throw Him off a cliff for claiming to be the Messiah (see Luke 4:28–30). Sensory boundaries protect you from fatigue and overstimulation. Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to desolate places to pray (see Luke 5:15–16). Physical boundaries protect your health. As the New International Version states, “One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep” (Luke 8:22–23). Social boundaries protect you from the perfectionism trap. When faced with hundreds of hungry people, Jesus extended grace. He did not make an excuse for the meager meal He had to offer his dining guest. No, He took the five loaves and the two fish and looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them into pieces and passed them to His disciples to serve to the crowds. Everybody ate and was satisfied. (See Luke 9:10–17.) Social boundaries also value your inner circle. Jesus took Peter, John, and James, His three closest friends, on a mountain to pray and there He revealed truth (see Luke 9:28). Spiritual boundaries provide room for unhurried intimacy. When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 NIV). Mental boundaries protect your priorities. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Luke 16:13 ESV). Creative boundaries abandon life’s outcomes to God’s sovereignty. Jesus was tempted to be overcome with fear about the cross. He overcame by letting go. He chose not to force things, but to trust God’s will. He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV).
”
”
Saundra Dalton-Smith (Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity)
“
If you experience depression, it can be helpful to set boundaries about how many things you expect yourself to do in a single day. If you add too much to your to-do list but lack the motivation, you’ll set yourself up for failure. Depression will increase if you take on too much without finishing any of the tasks you started. Instead, highlight the small wins, such as showering over the weekend, going to the gym, or going out with friends. Affirmations for people who struggle with depression:
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
When the Bible tells us to comfort with the comfort with which we are comforted (2 Cor. 1:4), it’s telling us something. We need to be comforted before we can comfort. That may mean setting boundaries on our ministries so that we can be nurtured by our friends. We must distinguish between the two.
”
”
Henry Cloud (Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life)
“
2. Eye Contact: Maintain eye contact—not a hard gaze, which can be threatening, but look people in the eye. Avoid averting your gaze, which can be interpreted as an expression of fear, lack of interest, disregard, or rejection. 3. Facial Expression: Keep a relaxed face and a composed expression. A calm, attentive expression reduces hostility. Conversely, looking bored or disapproving could increase hostility. 4. Voice: Correct use of tone, inflection, and volume is essential to convey the right message of confidence or assertiveness as needed. Verbal Tactics When we interact with a friend or family member, we usually know their background and personal mannerisms and, therefore, we’re generally familiar with how they’ll respond in a given situation. When dealing with strangers, however, we don’t have this knowledge, so we never know when or why someone may turn on us. This is where the tactical use of our voice is necessary. By recognizing your situation and implementing the correct combination of your voice (TIV), words, and body language, the appropriate response can be communicated. It’s important to be able to set verbal boundaries to protect yourself. Be sure you’re sending the same message with all of your tools. For example, you’re approached by a coworker who asks you out to dinner. You respond by selecting all of the correct words, telling him that you’re very flattered but do not date people within your work environment. Y
”
”
Darren Levine (Krav Maga for Women: Your Ultimate Program for Self Defense)
“
You don’t tell them. You set boundaries if they cross a line, but you are their friend—and my mate. They will protect you on instinct. If you kick their asses out of the house, they’ll just sit on the roof.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2))
“
We live in a bit of a dog-eat-dog world, and instead of supporting one another to the top, we are trampled on by the over-ambitious.
”
”
Chase Hill (Healthy Boundaries: How to Set Strong Boundaries, Say No Without Guilt, and Maintain Good Relationships With Your Parents, Family, and Friends (Master the Art of Self-Improvement Book 2))
“
Depends what you mean by strict. I set boundaries. There was discipline. I hope I taught them to be good people.” “My parents let my brother and I do pretty much whatever we wanted. Most kids would envy that, but it’s a form of neglect, don’t you think, not caring what your children are up to?” Jane
”
”
Janice Frost (Murder Among Friends (Warwick & Bell #1))
“
He’d written back, You don’t tell them. You set boundaries if they cross a line, but you are their friend—and my mate. They will protect you on instinct. If you kick their asses out of the house, they’ll just sit on the roof.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2))
“
Guilt Trip Examples Ending Toxic Relationships Rob had an abusive father and felt he had to end his relationship with his dad. Even within his family, he was subject to social scrutiny. Both family members and friends disagreed with his desire to terminate the unhealthy relationship. His sister said, “He’s your father. You have to talk to him.” Underlying issue: Rob’s sister devalued the importance of setting boundaries when a relationship is unhealthy.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
Don’t betray yourself to please others. Setting boundaries is not a betrayal of your family, friends, partner, work, or anyone or anything else.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
Erica started therapy at the urging of her friends, who saw her becoming burned out. While she was aware that she spent hours on social media and had become more withdrawn, she questioned whether she was actually experiencing burnout.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
I’d written to Rhys, How do I tell Cassian and Azriel I don’t need them here to protect me? Company is fine, but I don’t need sentries. He’d written back, You don’t tell them. You set boundaries if they cross a line, but you are their friend—and my mate. They will protect you on instinct. If you kick their asses out of the house, they’ll just sit on the roof. I scribbled, You Illyrian males are insufferable. Rhys had just said, Good thing we make up for it with impressive wingspans. Even with him across the territory, my blood had heated, my toes curling. I’d barely been able to hold the pen long enough to write, I’m missing that impressive wingspan in my bed. Inside me. He’d replied, Of course you are. I’d hissed, jotting down, Prick.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2))
“
It reminded me of the anxiety I feel whenever I set a boundary with a friend or colleague. If they receive it gracefully or demonstrate their respect for it, I often fight an urge to express my "gratitude" by erasing the boundary.
”
”
Melissa Febos (Girlhood)
“
Once humanity is sufficiently connected via our information technologies, Teilhard predicted, we will all fuse into a single universal mind—the noosphere—enacting the Kingdom of Heaven that Christ promised.
This is already happening, of course, at a pace that is largely imperceptible—though during periods when I am particularly immersed in the internet, I’ve felt the pull of the gyre. I sense it most often in the speed with which ideas go viral, cascading across social platforms, such that the users who share them begin to seem less like agents than as hosts, nodes in the enormous brain. I sense it in the efficiency of consensus, the speed with which opinions fuse and solidify alongside the news cycle, like thought coalescing in the collective consciousness. We have terms that attempt to catalogue this merging—the “hive mind,” “groupthink”—though they feel somehow inadequate to the feeling I’m trying to describe, which expresses itself most often at the level of the individual. One tends to see it in others more readily than in oneself—the friends whose sense of humor flattens into the platform’s familiar lexicon, the family members whose voices dissolve into the hollow syntax of self-promotion—though there are times when I become aware of my own blurred boundaries, seized by the suspicion that I am not forming new opinions so much as assimilating them, that all my preferences can be predicted and neatly reduced to type, that the soul is little more than a data set. I don’t know exactly what to call this state of affairs, but it does not feel like the Kingdom of God.
”
”
Meghan O'Gieblyn (God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning)
“
Unfortunately, empaths of all ages are favorite targets for energy vampires and abusers of all kinds. Teach your young empath how to build boundaries, to set their own standards for relationships, and to walk away from people who wish them harm. Make a point of telling them that they can always come to you if they want or need advice on how to handle a toxic friend or bully. Practice saying “No,” and use role-playing to rehearse how your child can extricate themselves from difficult situations.
”
”
Judy Dyer (Empath: A Complete Guide for Developing Your Gift and Finding Your Sense of Self)
“
Kim tells her friend, “I can’t help you move.” Kim’s friend then says, “Well, what about next week?” Her friend is trying to see if Kim has any flexibility. If Kim says, “Okay, next week,” she is sending a clear message to her friend that the boundary is flexible. Limit testing sounds like “I don’t have to listen to you.” “I’ll check with you again to see if you can help.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
Assertively, Kim could state, “I mentioned two days ago that I wouldn’t be able to help you move.” If she’s too scared to restate her boundary, she’ll likely end up helping her friend move, and her friend will likely ignore the next one Kim tries to set.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
Not Pleasing Others Carla was at a reunion lunch with friends from high school and said, “I don’t want to get married or have kids.” Her friend Pat said, “Everybody should have kids. Why wouldn’t you want to get married? You’re so nice.” Underlying issue: Pat tried to impose her values on Carla.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
Nova was the reason I learned to accept myself. After my experience in sixth grade, I swore I’d never allow myself to be humiliated again and I didn’t. I sought out friends who accepted me and I set firm boundaries for anyone who didn’t.
”
”
Annabel Chase (Drive Me Daisy (The Bloomin' Psychic, #3))
“
Whenever you identify a boundaries you’d like to set, remember that there are two steps to the process: communication and action.
Verbally communicating your needs is step one. People cannot accurately assume your boundaries based on your body language or unspoken expectations. When you explicitly state what you expect, there is little room for others to misinterpret what works for you. Assertive statements are the most effective way to do this.
The process doesn’t end with communication. You must uphold what you communicate through your behaviour. Betting on the other person to read your mind is a recipe for an unhealthy relationship. Action is required. For instance, let’s say you’ve told your friend, “It’s important to me that you honor plans that we set up. If you need to change our plans, please me a text a few hours before.” Because you’ve verbally communicated your boundary, when it’s violated, you need to reinforce it with action. In this case, you would let your friend know that you can’t accommodate the changed plans because they didn’t give you enough notice. You might say gently, “I want to hang out with you, but my schedule won’t allow for the adjustment. Let’s set up a time to get together next week.” It’s hard, I know. But honouring your boundaries through action is the only way most people will understand you’re serious, which will help people in your life become serious about your boundaries, too.
”
”
Nedra Glover Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself)
“
I would never have been able to make and keep the boundaries I have set around the relationships in my life if I had not said “yes” to that primary relationship with Jesus. If you don’t prioritize your relationship with God, then your God Spot will end up with a human being in it. That, my friend, is idolatry.
”
”
Danny Silk (Keep Your Love On: Connection Communication And Boundaries)
“
1. They were perfect… initially. We’ve discussed this one, but it’s worth mentioning again. A narcissist wants you to believe they’re totally into you and put you on a pedestal. Once they have you, though, they stop trying as hard and you end up being the one working to keep them. 2. Others don’t see the narcissist the way you do. It’s hard enough to see it yourself, but when those around you, especially their friends and family, make excuses for them, you start doubting yourself even more. Stick to what you see. 3. They’re making you look bad. In order to maintain their facade of perfection, they make you look like a bad person. Usually this involves spreading rumors, criticizing you behind your back, or creating lies you supposedly told. The worst part is that when you try rectifying the situation, or laying the blame where it should belong, the narcissist uses your defense to back their own lies. It’s frustrating because the generous, wonderful person they displayed initially is what those around you still see, even if you see them for who they really are. 4. You feel symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The toxic person may have caused you to worry about not acting the way you’re expected to, or that you haven’t done something right or good enough. In making this person your entire world, you may lose sleep, have no interest in things you used to or have developed a, “What’s the point?” attitude. You essentially absorb all of the negative talk and treatment so deeply, you believe it all. This is a dangerous mindset to be in so if you feel you’re going any steps down this path, seek outside help as soon as possible. 5. You have unexplained physical ailments. It’s not surprising that when you internalize a great deal of negativity, you begin to feel unwell. Some common symptoms that aren’t related to any ongoing condition might be: changes in appetite, stomach issues, body aches, insomnia, and fatigue. These are typical bodily responses to stress, but if they intensify or become chronic, see a physician as soon as you can. 6. You feel alone. Also a common symptom of abuse. If things are really wrong, the narcissist may have isolated you from friends or family either by things they’ve done themselves or by making you believe no one is there for you. 7. You freeze. When you emotionally remove yourself from the abuse, you’re freezing. It’s a coping mechanism to reduce the intensity of the way you’re being treated by numbing out the pain. 8. You don’t trust yourself even with simple decisions. When your self-esteem has been crushed through devaluing and criticism, it’s no wonder you can’t make decisions. If you’re also being gaslighted, it adds another layer of self-doubt. 9. You can’t make boundaries. The narcissist doesn’t have any, nor do they respect them, which is why it’s difficult to keep them away even after you’ve managed to get away. Setting boundaries will be discussed in greater detail in an upcoming chapter. 10. You lost touch with the real you. The person you become when with a narcissistic abuser is very different from the person you were before you got involved with them. They’ve turned you into who they want you to be, making you feel lost and insecure with no sense of true purpose. 11. You never feel like you do anything right. We touched on this briefly above, but this is one of the main signs of narcissistic abuse. Looking at the big picture, you may be constantly blamed when things go wrong even when it isn’t your fault. You may do something exactly the way they tell you to, but they still find fault with the results. It’s similar to how a Private feels never knowing when the Drill Sergeant will find fault in their efforts. 12. You walk on eggshells. This happens when you try avoiding any sort of conflict, maltreatment or backlash by going above and beyond to make the abuser happy.
”
”
Linda Hill (Recovery from Narcissistic Abuse, Gaslighting, Codependency and Complex PTSD (4 Books in 1): Workbook and Guide to Overcome Trauma, Toxic Relationships, ... and Recover from Unhealthy Relationships))
“
Living a connected life ultimately is about setting boundaries, spending less time and energy hustling and winning over people who don't matter, and seeing the value of working on cultivation connection with family and close friends.
”
”
Brené Brown (Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead)
“
In this life, you can’t expect to come into existence and never be scarred by life, life messes every one of us up, we are all pierced by its arrows and lay prey to its poisons and snares. But life’s a friend because, in the end, it makes an artist out of us. Life forces us to become, to push past the boundaries, that we set for ourselves and reach for something far greater than ourselves.
”
”
awakeningthewriter
“
In this life, you can’t expect to come into existence and never be scarred by life,
life messes every one of us up, we are all pierced by its arrows and lay prey to
It’s poisons and snares. But life’s a friend because, in the end, it makes an artist out of us. Life forces us to become, to push past the boundaries that we set for ourselves, and reach for something far greater than ourselves.
”
”
awakeningthewriter
“
In this life, you can’t expect to come into existence and never be scarred by life,
life messes every one of us up we are all pierced by its arrows and lay prey to
its poisons and snares. But life’s a friend because, in the end, it makes an artist out of us. Life forces us to become, to push past the boundaries, that we set for ourselves and reach for something far greater than ourselves.
”
”
awakeningthewriter
“
In this life, you can’t expect to come into existence and never be scarred by life,
life messes every one of us up, we are all pierced by its arrows and lay prey to
its poisons and snares. But life’s a friend because, in the end, it makes an artist out of us. Life forces us to become, to push past the boundaries that we set for ourselves and reach for something far greater than ourselves.
”
”
awakeningthewriter
“
Or suffering another lecture from Louise about how I’d been ‘far too soft with Grace’, followed by advice from her teacher friends who, like Louise, were in their mid-twenties, didn’t have kids and thought being a parent was a breeze. A breeze whistling through a blossom tree, if you just ‘set some boundaries and some consequences’.
”
”
Kerry Fisher (The Secret Child)
“
With age, I've come to embrace who I am. In my case, I am a person with a fantastic capacity for setting boundaries. More than I love saying yes, I love saying no. I love rescheduling. I love cancelling and being cancelled on. I take delight in declining Facebook event invitations. I love going to an uncool family chain restaurant with a best friend and talking shit for three hours, blissfully aware we will see nobody we know. I love not knowing what cool bands are playing at a music festival I don't care about and will never go to. Ultimately, I love not doing shit I hate. Freedom.
”
”
Anne T. Donahue (Nobody Cares)
“
Children whose paretns whithdraw when they start setting limits learn to accentuate and develop their compliant, loving, sensitive parts. At the same time, they learn to fear, distrust and hate their aggressive, truth-telling and separate parts. If someone they love pulls away when they become angry, cantankerous or experimental, children learn to hide these parts of themselves.
Parents who tell their children, "It hurts us when you're angry" make the child responsible for the emotional health of the parent. In effect, the child has just been made the parent of the parent - sometimes at two or three years old. It's far, far better to say, "I know you're angry, but you still can't have that toy." And then take your hurt feelings to a spouse, friend or the Lord. pg. 75
”
”
Henry Cloud (Boundaries)
“
WHOM DO YOU SPEND MORE time with: your best friend or your Blackberry? Thought so. Technology allows you to be constantly connected, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay available to everyone at all times. To give yourself time to recharge, get in the habit of setting aside time to literally unplug, says Linda Lantieri, director of The Inner Resilience Program, an organization focused on building emotional strength in school teachers. “I try not to turn on my computer at least one day a weekend,” says Lantieri. “At the end of a stressful week, I need to shift out of work mode in order to be present during my time off.” If taking a technology break isn’t an option, set some boundaries for yourself, like not viewing work e-mails after 8 p.m., or avoiding social networking sites on the weekend. By limiting your online distractions, you’ll be better able to engage with the friends and family who are physically—not virtually—with you, and make time for activities you enjoy, like reading or playing a sport, which help you recharge and beat burnout.
”
”
Jessica Cassity (Better Each Day: 365 Expert Tips for a Healthier, Happier You)
“
We can classify boundaries as six key types: physical, emotional, time, sexual, intellectual and material
”
”
Chase Hill (Healthy Boundaries: How to Set Strong Boundaries, Say No Without Guilt, and Maintain Good Relationships With Your Parents, Family, and Friends (Master the Art of Self-Improvement Book 2))
“
HELPING KIDS MANAGE EMOTIONAL FLASHBACKS This list is for social workers, teachers, relatives, neighbors and friends to help children from traumatizing families. It is adapted from the steps at the beginning of this chapter. Depending on the age of the child, some steps will be more appropriate than others. Even if you are not in a position to help other kids, please read this list at least once for the benefit of your own inner child. Help the child develop an awareness of flashbacks [inside “owies”]: “When have you felt like this before? Is this how it feels when someone is being mean to you?” Demonstrate that “Feeling in danger does not always mean you are in danger.” Teach that some places are safer than others. Use a soft, easy tone of voice: “Maybe you can relax a little with me.” “You’re safe here with me.” “No one can hurt you here.” Model that there are adults interested in his care and protection. Aim to become the child’s first safe relationship. Connect the child with other safe nurturing adults, groups, or clubs. Speak soothingly and reassuringly to the child. Balance “Love & Limits:” 5 positives for each negative. Set limits kindly. Guide the child’s mind back into her body to reduce hyper-vigilance and hyperarousal. a. Teach systemic relaxation of all major muscle groups b. Teach deep, slow diaphragmatic breathing c. Encourage slowing down to reduce fear-increasing rushing d. Teach calming centering practices like drawing, Aikido, Tai Chi, yoga, stretching e. Identify and encourage retreat to safe places Teach “use-your-words.” In some families it’s dangerous to talk. Verbal ventilation releases pain and fear, and restores coping skills. Facilitate grieving the death of feeling safe. Abuse and neglect beget sadness and anger. Crying releases fear. Venting anger in a way that doesn’t hurt the person or others creates a sense of safety. Shrink the Inner Critic. Make the brain more user-friendly. Heighten awareness of negative self-talk and fear-based fantasizing. Teach thought-stopping and thought substitution: Help the child build a memorized list of his qualities, assets, successes, resources. Help the child identify her 4F type & its positive side. Use metaphors, songs, cartoons or movie characters. Fight: Power Rangers; Flight: Roadrunner, Bob the Builder; Freeze: Avatar; Fawn: Grover. Educate about the right/need to have boundaries, to say no, to protest unfairness, to seek the protection of responsible adults. Identify and avoid dangerous people, places and activities. [Superman avoids Kryptonite. Shaq and Derek Jeter don’t do drugs.] Deconstruct eternity thinking. Create vivid pictures of attainable futures that are safer, friendlier, and more prosperous. Cite examples of comparable success stories.
”
”
Pete Walker (Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving)
“
I am me. Every day. Not who I think others expect me to be, But the real, unedited, beauty-full, perfectly flawed version. I choose to think for myself. I speak my truth And wrestle with life’s tough questions over and over again. I daydream about a better world and strive to make it my reality. My purpose drives me And I give it the freedom to change and evolve. I breathe life to my dreams and to the dreams of others. I believe in magic. I look for it everywhere. I make an adventure of ordinary things. Create, imagine, reinvent, and get lost. I do things that inspire me. I defy the odds, raise my hand, sit at the table and lean in. I refuse to give up. I pursue my passion at all costs. I do things that terrify me. My head dances among the stars, and my feet remain on mother earth. I’m willing to ask the hard questions, to take chances, to love with my whole heart. My mistakes and failures make me stronger. I do not ascribe my worth to external validation, but to my character. I surround myself with phenomenal people, Especially ones who don’t always agree with me. I choose authenticity over perfection. I appreciate the small details that tend to go unnoticed by others. My worth is innate and immeasurable. I try to remind myself of that, daily. I exercise patience as often as possible, Stay vulnerable even when I want to close my heart And practice coexisting with things that make me uncomfortable. I set boundaries, work to honor them, And am willing to edit people out of my life who don’t. I walk more than a mile in other people’s shoes, And suspend judgment as long as humanly possible. I remember to laugh more, stress less, forgive often, and inject love everywhere I can. I do my best to relinquish every ounce of control because it’s futile. I throw my hands up, close my eyes, and Revel in life’s awesome and mysterious ride. My emotions are fleeting, they do not define me. My choices do, and I do my best to make good ones. I feed my body good, whole foods, But don’t punish myself for the occasional indulgence. I move my body every day. I stretch, challenge, and honor her. I rest when I need to. I don’t accept every invitation that comes my way. I practice saying “no.” Show myself kindness, compassion, and unconditional love. I am my best friend, I’m proud of me. I share my life’s lessons with others, even the not so shiny ones. I hold nothing back. Cry when I need to, But also recognize when I need to buck up. I remember to breathe and in that space, I find my calm among the chaos. I owe it to myself to be remarkable, so I am.
”
”
Alexis Jones (I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl)
“
Practice saying no whenever you feel like it. Dare to trust your impulses. Allow yourself to be angry if you feel this emotion inside. Greet the anger as a friend, a messenger. If you make friends with anger and trust the message within that anger, setting boundaries will become much easier. You repress anger because you fear its power; however, you can let in your power.
”
”
Robert Schwartz (Your Soul's Gift: The Healing Power of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born)
“
Simply believing in a higher power means that you’re here for a reason, you’re not the most important being on this planet, and you have a purpose in this life—this isn’t all about you, but you still matter. Our decisions, the consequences of those decisions, and how our decisions affect others are more often talked about in religious homes and during religious services than they might be in nonreligious settings or families because religious people believe serving God is the first priority for the family. Additionally, families who are well-connected in religious communities and go to church frequently are more likely to have a solid social support network of people gathering around shared beliefs. You can make friends with similar convictions more easily. Your peer group growing up is more likely to have the same boundaries you do in terms of what behaviors are inappropriate and what are fine. If your family falls on hard times, you’re more likely to have a hand to help you up. But there’s one more big reason that we can easily overlook when we talk about how religion actually acts as a protective factor for our kids, building up their resilience against the hardships of life: hope. Simply put, Jesus gives us hope. As your child wades through the rocky waters of adolescence, starts questioning everything she knows, and tries to sort out how to navigate as an adult in this incredibly complex world, she has an anchor, a rock, a safe resting place in Christ. This may explain why studies have found that personal devotion to faith is a greater predictor of positive outcomes than simply strict adherence to religious beliefs, especially when it comes to teenagers.1
”
”
Sheila Wray Gregoire (She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up)
“
When I teach leadership principles, I ask individuals to identify the top
distractions that steal time from their productivity. Then, for each
distraction, I have them write a plan to help them set boundaries and
implement it. I always have enthusiastic individuals reporting back to me,
amazed at how this little exercise not only increased productivity but also
improved their sense of discipline and self-management.
all going wrong. I love this quote from Pastor Joel’s book You Can, You
Will:
Every day we get to choose our attitudes. We can determine to be
happy and look on the bright side—expecting good things and
believing we will accomplish our dreams—or we can elect to be
negative by focusing on our problems, dwelling on what didn’t work
out, and living worried and discouraged. These are the choices we all
can make. Nobody can force you to have a certain attitude. Life will go
so much better if you simply decide to be positive. When you wake up,
choose to be happy. That is the fourth undeniable quality of a winner.
Choose to be grateful for the day. Choose to look on the bright side.
Choose to focus on the possibilities.
Focus On:
Being Consistent and Dependable.
Getting Your Mind Right.
Not Hesitating.
Focus On:
Knowledge
Passion
1. Release your feelings: Our instincts can make it easy to hold
everything inside, but sprezzatura doesn’t mean you can never show
vulnerability. Always make sure you have support, whether it’s from a
friend, mentor, pastor, or counselor.
2. Let go of ego: Sometimes you might worry that no one else is cut out
for a certain task, but that feeling can often come from a place of
arrogance. Don’t be afraid to delegate or share the workload with other
individuals on your team.
3. Prioritize your attention: Don’t get distracted by the environment
around you. We can’t always control what’s going on in our presence,
so be intentional with your focus by concentrating on what demands
your attention.
”
”
J.J. Moses (Focused: The Prepared to Win Mindset)
“
HalleBeauty: Beauty Without Boundaries
At HalleBeauty, we’re rewriting the beauty rules—starting with effortless glam that’s as fierce as you are. Say goodbye to complicated routines and hello to glueless wigs that let you glow on your terms. This is beauty for women who wear many crowns—entrepreneurs, students, creatives, moms, and queens of every kind.
No stress. No glue. Just pure, flawless confidence.
Real Hair. Real Life. Real Gorgeous.
HalleBeauty’s glueless wigs are the ultimate hack for bold women who want it all: quality, ease, and style.
Each wig is made with premium human hair, giving you the look and feel of natural beauty without compromise. Forget salon appointments and sticky glue. These wigs are breathable, adjustable, and beginner-friendly.
Snap it on, style it your way, and go conquer your day—your beauty, your pace.
Designed to Move with You
Whether you're headed to a 9 AM meeting or a 9 PM date night, HalleBeauty keeps up. Our beauty solutions are built for women on the move. With glueless wigs that don’t budge and makeup that lasts all day, you never have to choose between busy and beautiful.
Fast, flawless, and fierce—that’s how we do it.
Styles That Speak Volumes
Every mood deserves a look. HalleBeauty’s collection of glueless wigs lets you switch things up whenever inspiration strikes:
Sleek straight styles for boss moves
Curly crowns for bold statements
Soft waves for laid-back glam
There’s no wrong way to wear your power. You get the flexibility to express yourself—without the stress.
What Sets HalleBeauty Apart
We’re not just another beauty brand. We’re a movement. HalleBeauty exists to celebrate the beauty, brilliance, and strength of every woman.
With us, you get:
High-quality glueless wigs that are made to last
Makeup must-haves that fit your vibe
A community of women who uplift and inspire
We’re not here to cover you up—we’re here to help you stand out.
Luxury That Feels Like You
Luxury should be effortless. With HalleBeauty, it is. Our wigs are breathable, lightweight, and ready to wear in seconds. No stylist needed. No damage done.
It’s all the glam, none of the guesswork.
Step Into Your Spotlight
You were never meant to blend in. At HalleBeauty, we’re here to help you shine even brighter—with looks that match your lifestyle and beauty that never holds you back.
”
”
hallebeauty0
“
Life is cruel. It plays with you while you spend your time thinking you're the one playing it. You plan, overthink, try to prepare for every possible worst-case scenario, but life still finds a way to hit you from where you least expect. You give everything your time, your love, your soul to people. You make homes out of your friends, your family, your partner. But in the end, you’re just alone. People can walk away. And when they do, you’re left wondering, should we even love at all?
Should we just be selfish, chase our own happiness, run before we get hurt? Or should we stay, give everything we have, even when we know it could break us? No one tells you what’s right. You can be the wisest person in the room, a genius even, and still life will humble you through pain. It doesn’t matter how much you know, pain teaches in a language no book ever could.
So who do we trust? Who do we love? People say love yourself, don’t rely on anyone. But what’s the point of loving yourself if there’s no one to share that love with? What’s the point if you can’t open your heart, take risks, live fully without holding back?
Then you hear others say, always prioritize yourself, set boundaries, don’t be weak. And yet some say be kind, help others, see their pain, love them anyway. But that path hurts too. So what’s right, selfishness or selflessness?
Maybe the answer is to be selfless without expecting anything in return. But that’s easier said than done. We’re human, we expect. We break when what we give isn’t returned. So how do you reach that place where you expect nothing? How many times do you have to die inside before you stop expecting? How much pain does it take?
No one teaches us these things. Life does. And it teaches through pain. So maybe pain isn’t the enemy, it’s our ally. It’s the one thing that leaves a mark deep enough to make us remember. Still, we run from it. We spend our lives chasing happiness, but maybe happiness is the real illusion, because it’s fleeting, it gives false hope, and disappears when you need it most.
Maybe pain is the only thing that stays. Perhaps it’s the only thing that’s honest.
”
”
Wahi Noor
“
Buy TextNow Accounts
Buying Textnow accounts can be a smart move. It offers you a secondary number without extra costs. This can be useful for privacy, business, or managing different contacts. Imagine having a second number for online shopping or business inquiries. It keeps your personal number private and secure.
If you want to more information just contact now-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
➤WhatsApp: +1 (707) 338-9711
➤Telegram: @Usaallservice
➤Skype: Usaallservice
➤Email:usaallservice24@gmail.com
Many people find this helpful for maintaining boundaries. Plus, Textnow offers free texting and calling over Wi-Fi. This is great for saving on phone bills. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder people are buying Textnow accounts. Let’s explore more about why you should consider this option.
Introduction To Textnow Accounts
Textnow is a service that offers free texting and calling. It provides users with a real phone number. You can use it on your smartphone or computer. It works over WiFi or mobile data. With Textnow, you can send messages and make calls for free. This is very helpful if you want to save on phone bills.
Textnow accounts are very useful. They help you stay connected. You get a free phone number. No need to pay for calls or texts. This is great for people who travel. You can keep in touch without extra costs. Textnow also offers voicemail and call forwarding. This makes it easier to manage your communications. Buy TextNow Accounts.
If you want to more information just contact now-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
➤WhatsApp: +1 (707) 338-9711
➤Telegram: @Usaallservice
➤Skype: Usaallservice
➤Email:usaallservice24@gmail.com
Benefits Of Textnow Accounts
Textnow accounts offer unlimited text messages and calls. Stay in touch with friends and family without limits. Enjoy clear voice calls and fast messaging. This service works on both Wi-Fi and mobile data. Stay connected wherever you go. The service covers international calls too. No more worries about extra charges for keeping in touch abroad. The app is easy to use and has a friendly interface. Many people choose it for its reliable and consistent performance.
Textnow accounts are a budget-friendly option. Save money on your phone bills. It offers free texting and calling features. No need for expensive phone plans. You can even use it on old devices. Just connect to Wi-Fi and you’re set. Great for students and families. No hidden fees or extra costs. Pay for what you need. Flexible plans to suit different needs. It’s a smart choice for everyone.
”
”
Buy TextNow Accounts -100% Safe,USA,UK Docs Verified