5 effective ways to set boundaries for a healthy relationship

This is a contribution post by Jasmine Bhatia

A line that marks the limits, personal space, and the way to be treated and spoken are a few descriptions of setting boundaries in relationships. Boundaries are present in every relationship- be it the mother-child relationship, amongst friends, siblings, and life partners. If we notice closely, it is not prescribed or mentioned but over a course of time it develops naturally and in case it doesn’t, it takes a toll on our mental health and affects our living.

Need for Setting Boundaries

Establishing boundaries is good for us and the people around us. When we’re clear about our boundaries, people will understand our limits and it is a way to communicate what we’re ok and not ok with.

Enhancing our identity

Setting boundaries flourishes our identity by owning respect, freedom and values and this, in turn, develops self-love and self-care within us.

Live a happy and contented life

Setting boundaries leads to being grateful by pleasantly listening to each other’s point of view in a very subtle way that lays the foundation of respect, honour, and freedom in life. It only means to be happy and contented from within, to live freely and to be respected and treated with honour.

Raising a hand for the right we deserve and politely communicating that setting boundaries in a relationship will only make the relationship stronger is the real charm of setting these boundaries.

Ways to set healthy boundaries in relationships

Communication

Choosing the right words while being assertive and expressing the type of boundary you need like a little time of your own, some family space or meeting friends to balance the stress of life is the key to setting these boundaries with ease.

Behavioural shift

Setting boundaries doesn’t mean overpowering or not being flexible while the situation demands you to be in, it only needs a behavioural shift from not paying attention to your needs and values to being clear and mindful and to focus on the importance of it. At the same time being soft in our tone and nature with self and others.

Learn to say no at times

Relationships suffer when we keep on doing things that we do not like to do or say but still perform it with half-heartedness. This slowly creates differences in our lives. Saying no at times in a polite way can make the other person understand our approach towards things and by this, a gentle line can be drawn in disagreeing to something that we cannot tolerate.

Team work effort

Setting boundaries is possible by the help and support of our loved ones. Thus, before setting boundaries express the reason why we ought to do this and how things will change for the better after this is done. This way it doesn’t seem like a burden or unpleasant to anyone while executing the same.

Follow it with empathy

Setting boundaries is not done with the intention to hurt anyone nor does it mean to be dominant and rude. In fact, it projects understanding the other person’s feelings, emotions and opinions too while putting our point of view if we differ on any matter. Practicing empathy while setting boundaries effortlessly makes things happen in a relationship.

Life is lived by how we want to live it,

It’s the choice of actions we take in it,

Setting healthy boundaries is one in it

Where relationship with self and others radiantly shine!

Jasmine Bhatia is a blogger, volunteer, home maker, learner and an optimistic person by nature. She believes our life is a beautiful creation of the universe given to each one of us and each day is blessed with new  thoughts, new opportunities, new challenges and new learning from every little cell of life. Her articles are written with a motive to re-fill the dose of positivity and believe in the beauty of the lessons of life that it gives to all of us. Find her on Twitter.

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