Relationships are tough, whether they’re friendships or romantic relationships. They take a lot of effort and energy and can be very stressful at times.
Sometimes, it can be hard to keep up with all the demands your partner or friend makes on you, so it’s important to know how to set boundaries in your relationships while still being compassionate with the other person’s feelings and needs.
There are plenty of ways to set boundaries in any relationship, but here are some of the most effective ways to help protect your heart and your sanity from getting trampled on by someone else’s behaviour problems!
Love yourself
You deserve the best. You deserve happiness. You deserve someone who will love you unconditionally, not just when it’s convenient for them. You deserve someone who will be there for you, not just when they feel like it or they get caught up with something.
You deserve to be the priority, not an afterthought or second choice. If this isn’t happening right now, then it’s time to make a change before you invest too much of yourself into what is clearly not working out.
Avoid energy vampires
Energy vampires are people who suck the life out of you. They’re draining, confusing, manipulative, and often unhealthy. Sometimes they’re family members or friends; other times they’re acquaintances. Regardless of the type of energy vampire, it’s important to know how to protect yourself so that you can maintain your sanity and sense of self-worth.
Have high standards
Setting boundaries is important because it will help you protect yourself from being taken advantage of. You deserve the best, so don’t settle for anything less. Having high standards will not only help you with relationships but also with life in general.
If you’re not happy with something, just change it or let it go. Life is too short to be unhappy or settle for mediocre treatment. It’s up to you what happens next!
Know when it is time to walk away
It is never easy when it comes time to walk away from a toxic person. However, sometimes it is necessary. When we take the time to evaluate our relationships with others, we can be more intentional about how we interact with them.
Here are some helpful questions that you can ask yourself when it comes time to assess whether or not you should leave a relationship:
- Do I feel drained after spending time with this person?
- Am I walking on eggshells around this person?
- Does my partner put me down or do things that make me feel bad about myself?
- Is this person verbally abusive?
- Am I afraid of being close emotionally or physically with my partner?
- Does my partner put other people’s needs before mine?
Make No Assumptions
Don’t assume that your partner will remember birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. Don’t assume that they’ll come home at the time they said they would. Don’t assume that they’ll pick up the phone when you call. And don’t assume that they’ll do what you want them to do.
It’s not fair for one person in a relationship to make all of those assumptions about the other person, no matter how much you care about them or love them.
Try before you commit
Having relationships with people we love is one of the most beautiful things life has to offer, but it can also be one of the most difficult. When it’s easy, it’s easy.
But when it’s hard, it can be so very hard. One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to learn how to set boundaries that protect both your heart and your sanity.
Conclusion
Setting boundaries is not about being selfish. It’s about setting limits for yourself so that you can be healthy, happy, and well-rested.
Setting the right boundaries with someone who is toxic will help you feel more empowered in the relationship; sometimes those people need us to speak up for ourselves before they can hear it themselves.
Setting the right boundaries with someone who wants things from us will help us feel safe in the relationship; we should not have to give up our time, our thoughts, or ourselves just because we are dating them.
Setting the right boundaries with someone who needs space will help both of you get what you need out of this partnership; if one person always needs more than their fair share of everything, then that leads to resentment on both sides.
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