Living with anxiety is . . . well, it’s overwhelming. Yet so many of us do, for so many reasons. Some find relief from anxiety when they talk with a therapist, or when they take medication (something that’s helped Emily, for sure). Sometimes, anxiety is a tool your body’s using to tell you something — that maybe someone has stepped over one of your boundaries, and that’s not okay with you. It could be a boundary of your time, your money, your values, your body. Boundaries affect how we live every day, but many of us haven’t really thought about them. Today, Emily’s going to start a conversation we’ll continue in a few weeks as we take a deep-dive into what boundaries are, why they’re so important — and how we can make sure we’re honoring them. Because when we honor our boundaries, we honor ourselves. And as we honor ourselves, we may start to feel some of that anxiety loosen its grip.
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Thought-Provoking Quotes
“You get to decide who gets your time, your help, and your brain space. You get to decide how you show up in relationships and where your lines are drawn. Having healthy boundaries leads you on the path to feeling safe, calm, loved and respected.” – Emily Ley
“Figuring out what your responsibilities are to others can be a little bit tricky, especially if you let someone else make those decisions for you.” – Emily Ley
“It's not your job to solve every problem and you are not a burden for having your own needs. There are so many ways to juggle your responsibilities that don't involve running away. You don't have to hide or have a pit in your stomach because you feel like you have to do it all, and you have to do it all alone, and you have to do it all perfectly. You can choose to move through the world differently. You can choose to move forward with better boundaries.” – Emily Ley
A Blessing for Your Week
May you remember that what you give to yourself naturally extends out toward others,
That giving yourself the compassion to say no will help you say yes to the things that matter most,
And that your courage to care for yourself shows others that they are able to give themselves that same sort of care back to themselves.
Simplicity Tip of the Week
We’re going to revisit how to create and maintain healthy boundaries in a few weeks. But in the meantime, I want you to think about some of the pressure points you have in your life. They could be at work, or in your family or friendships. Are you always struggling to keep up with demands? Maybe your boundaries have a few holes in them. Are you feeling lonely and a bit misunderstood? Maybe your walls are a little too high, and you need to build a gate so people can pass through sometimes.
Take a few minutes this week and assess your boundaries. They might be something you want to explore a bit more as you move through the new year.
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