The Quiet Power of Boundaries

Many of us grew up believing that being a “good person” means saying yes, yes to favours, yes to extra work, yes to anything that keeps the peace. But the truth that we rarely say out loud is that people pleasing is not kindness. It’s self-abandonment dressed as generosity.

How then do we break out of the self-harming cycle of people pleasing?

Boundaries! Boundaries are a declaration of self-respect, as if to say, “my peace, my energy, and my time matter." Learning to say “no” can feel uncomfortable at first because you’re used to shrinking yourself to keep others comfortable, but every time you honour your limits, you teach people how to treat you, and more importantly, you teach yourself what you deserve.

Remember that you are not responsible for managing other people’s expectations, but it is on you to protect your mental and emotional space. Setting boundaries won’t always make everyone happy, but it will help your mind be quieter and your heart be more at peace.

I'm rooting for you!

-Hembfan from MANI