Have you ever been disrespected or ignored by others in your life? 
 
Are you in a relationship where you are constantly feeling like you have to defend yourself or your actions? 
 
Do you have a hard time saying “no” to other people? 
 
Have some of your relationships left you feeling physically and emotionally drained?
 
If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are not alone.  Like yourself, I know from first-hand experiences, that relationships with other people can be challenging.  Relationships are everywhere.  We cannot escape them.  They show up at work, at school, at the food market, at home and even in the world of social media.
 
Speaking of social media, resources on the internet state that the average person spends about 70% of their awake time communicating with others (30% talking & 40% listening). While this may not be applicable to everyone, the point is that we spend a large part of our day communicating with others.
 
Because we are surrounded by a variety of relationships, each of them requires that we behave differently.  Some relationships are personal, some are simply social and others are strictly professional.  Each of these relationships has specific needs.  Each one has a unique purpose.  Additionally, each of them requires a certain amount of our time, skills, commitment and energy. 
 
That said, after many years interacting with others, I have learned that achieving healthy relationships requires a variety of skills, such as active listening, problem-solving and maintaining personal boundaries, just to name a few. So, the focus of this blog post is to identify signs of unhealthy relationships and to share tips on creating and maintaining personal boundaries in your relationships.
 
Below are a few signs of unhealthy boundaries in relationships:

• Letting others speak or think for you.
• Being upset when the other person does not meet your needs.
• Doing things for others that are against your values.
• Feeling bad or uncomfortable saying no
• Not speaking up when others treat you poorly.

 
If you find yourself relating to these signs, here are some tips for establishing appropriate boundaries:
 
 Tip #1  Identify your Needs:

Everyone has needs. Needs are things that are necessary for living our lives. The issue for most folks is that they have trouble understanding what exactly are their needs.Once we are clear and have identified our needs, we increase the likelihood of getting our needs met.
 
So, in order to create and maintain boundaries in your relationships, make a list of those needs that are important to you. Below are examples of needs:

• To be respected by others
• To feel safe
• To trust each other
• To be heard during a conversation

 
Before you go onto the next step, take a moment to make a list of your needs and keep it nearby. When working with my coaching clients, I encourage them to write their needs in their journals.If you do not have one, I suggest you get one and keep it near you.
 
 Tip #2  Define your Boundaries:   
 
At this point it is important to be clear about what boundaries mean to you.  I encourage you to create or find a definition for personal boundaries that you feel comfortable with.  For example, check out the quote at the top of this blog post. 

For another example, see my definition below:
 
“Personal boundaries are healthy limits that I place in all of my relationships, so that myself and others are clear about what is acceptable behaviors while we interact with each other.  If there are any violations, I will take steps to protect my boundaries."
 
Now that you have you definition that you are comfortable with, you are ready to take the next step.  For a moment, refer to the list of needs you made for the previous tip.

The next step is that we are going to convert your list of needs into what I refer to as "Boundary Statements". Below are examples of boundary statements:
 
“I expect all of my personal relationships to be mutually respectful.”
“Feeling safe in all relationships is vital to me.”
“The existence of trust is vital to me.”
“Listening to what I have to say is very important to me.”
 

Tip #3   Share your boundaries:

Now that you have identified your needs and created your boundary statements, you are ready to communicate with others what is important to you.
 
Before you begin, you may wish to share your expectations with the other person.For example, I would ask the person to listen first and give feedback only when asked.Also, it is important to remind the other person that we keep what is shared in confidence.

Finally, this may be a good time to ask the other person to share any experiences they have had setting boundaries in their own relationships.You may want to ask the person for feedback on how he or she handled others that were being difficult.

Tip #4  Defend your boundaries:

This is where you get to stand up for yourself when faced with another person that shows lack of respect for your boundaries.This is a tough step, especially for those of us who avoid personal conflicts.Conflicts are very uncomfortable.With practice, you will build confidence in defending your boundaries with others.
 
It is important to let others know when they crossed the line or behaved inappropriately towards you.Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself.
 
One suggestion I find quite useful, when trying to defend my boundaries with others, is to use “I-Statements”. These statements are concise, short and to the point. Below is an example:
 
I feel    upset

When  you make fun of me in front of others
                                                                                                                                            Because it is very embarrassing and hurtful

I need  you to respect me when we are with other people.
 
Unfortunately, there may be times when you simply need to take time and space away from others who do not respect your boundaries.

Remember, it is your responsibility to protect yourself from unacceptable behaviors. You need to take control of your life and not allow others to control you.
 
Eventually, with plenty of practice, you will gain respect from others who value and appreciate you as the wonderful unique person that you are. Additionally, your sense of self-worth and confidence will increase as well.
 
Tip #5  Reflect on your boundaries:

This is an opportunity for you to reflect upon your experiences setting boundaries with others.Perhaps you can write down any thoughts, feelings or suggestions that occurred to you in the process.

Also, it may be helpful for you to follow up with the person you talked with in step three and share any learning or concerns.
 
Perfecting the art of setting boundaries requires time and practice.Over the years, I have noticed that is has become easier to share what is important to me in my relationships.
 
Once you know how to establish healthy boundaries, you can expect to see some dramatic improvements in yourself and your relationships.  You will find:

• Your confidence and self-worth improves.
• You no longer feel emotionally drained.
• Others will honor, respect and support your needs.
• You will have the ability to identify healthy people and avoid unhealthy ones.
• You will find peace of mind and feel more in control of your life.
• Your communication improves.

 
So, have you said yes to any of those questions at the start of this blog? 
Are you ready to stand up for yourself? 

Would you like others to respect your needs, thoughts and feelings?
 
If you are like me, I value myself and expect others in my life to do the same.  I no longer wish to be treated like a second-class person in my relationships.  I want to put an end to being treated poorly by others, as I know deep down I deserve better.
 
It is never too late to work on creating and maintaining healthy boundaries with others.  If you need support in doing this, contact me for a free conversation on how we can do this together.  Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I wish you the best in your quest to establish healthy relationships.
 
If you want to see a video on this topic, go to this link:

Please share any comments below on how helpful this post was for you and any steps you will be taking to create and maintain health boundaries. 

Also, if you found this helpful, please share with others who may benefit.
 
 

Relationships are everywhere.  We cannot escape them.  Some are easy to maintain while others, not so much.  We have relationships with ourselves, family members, friends and those we work with.  Not all relationships are the same.  Each one has specific needs, expectations, demands, challenges and benefits.
 
We depend upon our thoughts, beliefs, values, emotions and memories of our past experiences in order to participate and maintain the relationships in our lives. For some, we developed healthy relationship skills growing up and as adults are currently reaping the rewards.
 
For others, who were not so lucky to have healthy relationship role models growing up, painful experiences, such as hardships and trauma, during the early years in life has led to relationship challenges in adulthood.  There is no doubt in my mind, the trauma I experienced in childhood led to the relationship difficulties I experienced in my early adulthood.  
 
With low self-esteem, no confidence and the inability to identify my needs and express myself, I felt stuck and frustrated in most of my relationships.  There were lots of conflicts and painful relationship breakups.  At one point, I decided that I wanted to learn how to have and experience healthy, unconditionally loving relationships. 
 
Not knowing where to start, I bought lots of books, participated in self-improvement seminars and even sought out a therapist.  After spending time getting to know myself, I discovered something pretty powerful.  I discovered that in order to have healthy loving relations with others, I had to learn to love myself first. 
 
That said, the most important relationship in my life is the one I have with myself.
 
Without further ado, below is a list of suggestions that I gained on my own personal journey as well as from working in jobs empowering others for over thirty-four years:

1. Get to Know You: 

Know yourself well. Discover the things that are important to you, such as your values, beliefs, likes, dislikes, and what makes you happy. Once you discover these things about yourself, surround yourself with like-minded people where you can support each other.
 
There are countless resources, such as books, personal growth seminars, and life coaches, like myself, readily available to you when you are ready to say yes to getting to know the real you.I have listed at the bottom of this post some books I have found quite helpful in developing healthy relationship skills.
 
When you stop living other people’s lives and start living yours, you are giving each other the chance to flourish into an amazing person. Getting to know yourself is a journey and takes time to materialize. It is a lifelong commitment in getting to know yourself.In knowing and understanding yourself well, you will make better choices, set and reach realistic goals, and ultimately live a fulfilling, productive, and happy life.
 
There are all kinds of personality tests you can chose from to help you get to know yourself well. The one personality test I suggest to others is the one found at this link.  When you have about 12 to 15 minutes, check out the link and take the test.  Also, you will find a list of books in this post that will certainly help you get to know yourself well.
 
2. Create & Maintain Boundaries:
 
Personal boundaries establish who you are to other people. These boundaries help others to know who you are and who you are not.If we are to grow and live as healthy, loving individuals, we need to take full ownership of our boundaries. When you own and respect your boundaries other people will not be confused and will most likely respect who you are as a person.
 
Boundaries are vital to the success of healthy relationships. There are all kinds of boundaries: personal, emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, spiritual and much more. Having boundaries lets others know what are the acceptable behaviors in the relationship. When you state your boundaries, it shows the love and respect you have for yourself and for the relationship as a whole.
 
Here are some tips on creating and maintaining healthy boundaries:

• Get to know yourself well.  When you do, you have a good idea what are acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.
• Take full responsibility for yourself.  No one is responsible for living your life but you. 
• Never apologize or explain yourself:  When you are setting boundaries, be clear, concise, and direct when letting others know your limits.  Avoid coming from a place of anger if possible.   Remind yourself you have the rights to stick up for your well-being.
• Pay attention to inappropriate behaviors.  Pay attention to your gut when interacting with others.  When someone’s actions cause you to feel uncomfortable, pay attention to why you feel that way.  That may be a sign that a boundary needs to be set or reinforced.
• Be firm with others when setting boundaries.  Let people know what are acceptable behaviors and if they cross the line, you will let them know the consequences.
• Be comfortable with setting limits.  Drawing the line in the sand with others due to inappropriate actions is not easy.  It is important that you learn to get comfortable with standing up for yourself even when it may upset the other person. 
• Seek support from healthy friends & loved ones: You don’t have to live your life alone.  If you are having a hard time wondering if you need to set a boundary or let go of someone who hurts you, seek out help from loved ones.
• Expect and plan for resistance:  If you are in a controlling or abusive relationship, your partner may challenge you.  Expect this to happen.  Be firm, clear, direct, and avoid apologizing for your actions.
• Practice letting go.  Letting go is hard.  Sometimes we need to know when we need to let go of people in our lives that hurt us or no longer respect our needs.  Practice spending time with yourself.  It helps you to get a fresh perspective and get used to being okay with being alone.
• Practice makes perfect.  As with learning any new habit or behavior, it will take time for you to get really good at creating and protecting your boundaries.  Over time you will master this well. 

 
As you can see, setting and maintaining boundaries is vital to your survival. It sends a message to the world that you love and respect yourself and will take actions to take good care of yourself.
 
If you would like to learn to how to create and maintain personal boundaries, feel free to reach out to me for free consult in how coaching can help you meet your goals.You can reach me via my website as shown in this document or can call me directly on my cell phone at (978)372-2284.  Or contact me via this website.

3.  Have Ground Rules:

One of the biggest reasons for failed relationships, whether romantic or social, is the lack of an agreement in how to behave respectfully with each other. If you feel your relationships lack rules, sit down with the other person and agree to brainstorm on a list.
 
Remember, it’s important to create a draft and work on perfecting it over time. These types of projects take time to create.Examples of rules might look like the following list:

• agree to disagree
• own your emotions, thoughts, actions
• don’t speak for the other person
• ask for permission to start conversation
• your opinion is just that, an opinion
• avoid using cuss words
• respect the need of other person to end conversation

 
4.  Do not tolerate abuse of any kind:

There are so many definition of abuse. Examples of types of abuse are verbal, emotional, sexual, physical, and spiritual. The definition of abuse I often use is “when someone maliciously mistreats another person”. Any form of abuse prevents relationships from being healthy.
 
If you feel you are in a relationship where there is abuse, it is important to recognize this and seek out professional help. Abuse in relationships is common and often referred to as Domestic Abuse.If you suspect that you are in an abusive relationship and need to talk to someone confidentially, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. The calls are private and they will always ask you if it is safe to talk.Make sure you call when it is safe to call this hotline.

5.  How to approach Introverts and Extrovert:

Being an extrovert, I consider myself an outgoing, outspoken, and gregarious person.  I happen to be in a relationship with a partner who is an introvert, which is normally a person who is relatively private or shy in nature.
 
In the past 17 years of living with an introvert, I have learned some valuable lessons I would like to share.  First, it is important to determine who is the introvert and who is the extrovert.
 
Secondly, ask your partner what it is like being an introvert/extrovert.  While asking questions, ask what makes your partner uncomfortable and comfortable when interacting with people.
 
Lastly, avoid behaviors that are dismissive in nature.For example, avoid saying the following remarks to an introvert “I wish you were more outgoing” or “How come you are not a people person?”.  These types of comments imply that there is something wrong with being an introvert.
 
There are comments to avoid when in relations with an extrovert. For example, avoid making comments such as “I wish you would stop socializing so much” or even “Why do you always have to talk when we go out to social events?” Comments like these can make someone who is either an introvert or extrovert feel like there is something wrong with them.
 
Take the time to learn about each other and understand the characteristics of introverts and extroverts. Your relationships, like mine will be very receptive to each other’s needs and the rewards are amazing.

6.  Find and read useful books on relationships:

There are so many books on learning to love yourself and having healthy relationships with others. Below is only a small sample of the many out there:

• “The Road Less Traveled” by M.Scott Peck,M.D.
• “Conscious Loving: The Journey to Co-Commitment”

            by Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D

• “Codependent No More” by Melody Beattie
• “Creating Love” by John Bradshaw
• “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown, Ph.D, LMSW

 
 
If there is a book you would like to suggest, please reply to this post with your suggestions so myself and other readers will benefit.  Thank you.

7.  Own your stuff:

You are 100% responsible for your well-being. No one is responsible for making you happy. Happiness starts with you. Having others in our lives may bring happiness but true happiness starts deep within you.Like many, I have gone into relationships hoping I would find happiness or that the other person knows what I want and need.I was often disappointed and let myself down.
 
In each relationship, both sides come with a great deal of life experiences. Those experiences shape how we each see ourselves and the relationships we are in. Our experiences can either help us or hurt us. This is why I feel it is important for you to know and apply the tips in this post to your relationships. Having had many painful relationship experiences, my goal is to empower you with knowledge and to seek out only those relationships that serve you.
 
Since I have been on the path to self-awareness I have gained happiness, a sense of liberation, and a strong sense of fulfillment. The first three words in the book “The Road Less Traveled”  by Scott Peck plainly states “Life is difficult”. I was troubled for many years after I read those words. I knew what he meant but deep down inside, I wish he said something like “Life is difficult but it doesn’t have to be”. That is my motto in life now.
 
If you are in a relationship where you feel there are issues and you are unclear or feeling stuck on what to do, contact me for a free, private coaching session.In that session, I can show you how coaching can help you get both clear and unstuck so you can take the steps to experience healthy loving relationships.

May you take the steps to make sure your relationships serve your well being.