Self-Doubt – Renew Inspiration Mind Body Spirit

7 Ways To Create Healthy Boundaries

LaPorterJanuary 17, 20221 Reply

Healthy boundaries are not walls to block others out. They are barriers that set us free to love the right people, most importantly ourselves. – Ann Lesuer

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I want to pause to say HAPPY MLK DAY! Hope you plan to reflect on how you can keep Martin Luther King’s dream alive. For me, I will continue to treat everyone with love and respect no matter the color of their skin. Also, I will continue to speak up when people of color are not treated fairly. It’s a shame that we are still speaking about this matter in 2022, but it is our reality.

How has 2022 been treating you so far? I have to be honest there’s a few areas of my life that have been stressing me out lately, but I continue to move forward each and every day. One area in particular that concerns me the most is the idea of setting personal boundaries to protect my mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health. With that in mind, I want to share ways to create healthy boundaries within your current lifestyle. Although, creating healthy boundaries can be empowering and life changing, this process will also help you to:

Honor your personal values and beliefs.
Communicate your needs in a relationship.
Make time and space for positive interactions.
Set limits in a relationship in a way that is healthy.
Strengthen your inner self, mind, body, and spirit.

When you recognize the need to set and enforce limits that impacts your life in a positive way, you not only feel a sense of freedom, but you also improve your self-esteem, maintain self-respect, and enjoy healthy relationships along the way.

DEFINE BOUNDARIES

Boundaries are limits you set for yourself that determine what you will or won’t participate in. – Unknown Author

Before going any further, let’s take a moment to define boundaries.

Boundaries (noun):

Guidelines, rules or limits that a person creates to identify for themselves what are reasonable, safe and permissible ways for other people to behave around them and how they will respond when some people steps outside those limits.

It’s important to note that unhealthy boundaries may cause emotional imbalances in your life that can lead to dependency of alcohol or drugs, depression, anxiety, or other stressed-induced physical illnesses. However, if you commit to creating healthy boundaries within your lifestyle, you will:

Have good mental and emotional health.
Develop your own personal identity.
Avoid mental, emotional, and physical burnout.
Influence others’ behavior.
Improve self-awareness.
Maintain healthy and friendly relationships.

Remember, to always strive to live a well-balanced life throughout this process. I want to share the following barriers you may experience if you don’t establish healthy boundaries within your lifestyle:

- Fear of rejection.
- Fear of abandonment.
- Fear of confrontation.
- Feeling guilty.
- Lack of understanding.
- Safety concerns.
- Poor self-esteem.

BENEFITS OF CREATING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

I allow myself to set healthy boundaries. To say no to what does not align with my values, to say yes to what does. Boundaries assist me to remain healthy, honest and living a life that is true to me. – Lee Horbachewski

Creating healthy boundaries is an important aspect of loving one-self and practicing self-care. Many people strive to understand the benefits of creating healthy boundaries throughout this fascinating journey called life. It’s important to have a set of values, principles, morals, and beliefs that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to life, then using those principles to guide your actions. Finding meaning and purpose may be a lifelong process for most people that evolves based on unique circumstances or individual life experiences.

The benefits of creating healthy boundaries allow you to:

Improve your self-esteem and self-respect.
Establish trusting relationships with others.
Protect your physical and emotional space.
Establish an equal partnership where responsibility and power are shared.
Separate your needs, thoughts, feelings, and desires from others.
Recognize your boundaries and needs are different from others.
Empower yourself to make healthy choices and take responsibility for yourself.

Keep in mind that it’s natural to experience a variety of emotions, such as hope, forgiveness, acceptance, doubt, fear, disappointment, or conflict along the path to creating healthy boundaries. Just be open, honest and allow yourself to feel all of the emotions that are taking place throughout your journey.

HOW TO CREATE HEALTHY BOUNDARIES USING SELF-CARE

A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect. – Unknown Author

So, how do you create healthy boundaries while living your best life? The answer is quite simple. You must practice and implement a consistent self-care routine. Self-care is nourishment for your entire soul, mind, body, and spirit. Self-care can also help people become the best version of themselves when they learn effective ways to navigate through life.

Here’s some great ways to create healthy boundaries in your life using self-care:

Clearly define your desired boundaries and limitations to protect your well-being.
Communicate well while keeping your personal needs and values in the forefront.
Give yourself permission to express how you feel in any given situation.
Keep it simple and don’t feel the need to over explain yourself to anyone.
Seek positive support from people you trust.
Be assertive and bold when expressing yourself to others.
Set consequences and voice your concerns when people fail to respect your boundaries.

Learning to create healthy boundaries takes time and effort on your part. Set your healthy boundaries in your own time frame, not when someone else suggest you do so. Give yourself permission to take time out for you. From time to time, make an appointment with yourself. Don’t wait for good moments to arise, they rarely come. Plan your time wisely and create healthy boundaries that help nurtures your mind, body, and spirit. Peace, love and blessings!

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. – Brene Brown

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Keep in mind that this is a journey, and everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

MIND

Meditate on peaceful thoughts. Define those thoughts in detail and write about them.
What is your favorite memory or life experience?
Write about a mental obstacle you overcame today.
Did you make time for mental relaxation today?

BODY

What do you feel right now in this very moment? Listen to your body and write about it.
Name one area of physical health you excel in, and one you would like to improve.
Write down 5 ways to relax and commit to doing at least 1 per day.
What gives your life meaning and purpose?

SPIRIT

How do you cope with spiritual struggles that occur in your life?
What set a spark in your soul today? this week? this month?
How do you respond to setbacks or failures? How could you change from within?
How does your spiritual values guide my daily decisions and actions?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS

The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none. – Unknown Author

As I stated before, I look forward to hearing from you. Please take a moment to reflect on these questions. Then, share your answers in the comment section below. You’ll be surprised how much we learn from one another. How often do you spend time journaling? What kind of improvements do you need to make in your life? Have you defined your meaning and purpose in life? Do you ever spend time reflecting on healthy boundaries? Why or why not? How do I get through tough times? Where do I find comfort?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Conquering Self-Doubt

LaPorterApril 26, 2020Leave a Reply

Your self-doubt does not define who you are or what you are capable of. – Unknown Author

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I hope you and your families are healthy and safe during this difficult time. Michigan’s Governor has extended our Stay-At-Home Order until May 15th.
Now, we have more time on our hands to spend with family and to do things that have been on our bucket lists for a long time.

But let’s face it, it is hard to start projects, whether it is writing a book, training for a 5K, going back to school, changing jobs or any other dream you may have. The moment you take that first step on your journey, the moment you start working toward your dream, little seeds of self-doubt begins to plant fear in your mind. Take a deep breath and capture the moment. Despite the fear you may feel because you are entering an unknown territory, embrace your true feelings and know that conquering self-doubt is possible.

Self-doubt can:

• Hold you back from opportunities

• Make things harder than they need to be

• Increase fear and anxiety

• Cause you to be stuck in the comparison trap

• Force you to live in the past

AMAZON RESOURCE #1

COMMON CAUSES OF SELF-DOUBT

Self-doubt inflicts the deepest wounds. – Unknown Author

According to the Webster Dictionary, self-doubt can be defined as having lack of confidence in oneself and one’s abilities. Did you know that self-doubt is the most common reason why people fail throughout his or her life journey? Many people spend way too much time overanalyzing and overthinking everyday life situations, goals, dreams, and challenges.

Here’s some common causes of self-doubt that people may encounter:

• Past experiences, thoughts and mistakes reoccurring in his or her mind

• Childhood upbringing and/or trauma that was never dealt with growing up

• Lack of courage and self-confidence with oneself

• Getting caught up in comparisons with others

• The need to rise to new challenges and/or opportunities

• Having constant fear of failure and/or successes

• Struggling to overcome procrastination and meeting deadlines

• No willpower and lack of commitment when involved with projects and people

• Trying to live out other people’s dreams instead of his or her own

AMAZON RESOURCE #2

CONQUERING SELF-DOUBT

Self-doubt is contagious so be careful. – Unknown Author

Everyone handles situations in their lives differently. However, many situations occur in life that call upon us to do something we find scary, upsetting, uncomfortable, anxiety provoking, or distressing. However, it’s important for people to approach self-doubt head on and don’t allow excuses to interfere with decision making.

Here’s some ways to assist with conquering self-doubt:

• Ground yourself and don’t overthink it.

• Commit yourself ahead of time and tell negative voices to stop.

• Take a break and get a boost of optimism through the journaling process.

• Listen to encouraging podcast and read self-development books.

• Nurture healthy relationships by doing fun activities with family or a friend.

• Create a set of mantras, positive quotes or affirmations for on-going support.

• Find a licensed therapist or support group that you feel comfortable with.

UPLIFTING AFFIRMATIONS

I am totally safe and surrounded by love, light, peace, joy, and happiness. – Unknown Author

Every day I grow closer to my highest self. I remove any sign of self-doubt from my very being. I believe in the person I dream of becoming. My energy is powerful and positive. I am a powerful woman who supersedes everything I put my mind to. I am unstoppable, powerful, confident, and simply amazing. Affirmations are created to help change our mindset.

Here’s some other uplifting affirmations you may want to live by:

• Everything that is happening now is happening for my ultimate good.

• Though these times are difficult, they are only a short phase of life.

• My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless: my potential to succeed is infinite.

• I am conquering my illness. I am defeating it steadily each day.

• Amazing opportunities exist for me in every aspect of my life.

Always remember that you deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about. Don’t let other people make you forget that. Remember, don’t get caught up in the comparison trap instead remove the distractions. Let go of excuses and trust yourself. Think of the doors that would open for you. If you struggle with self-doubt take some time to consider all the ways your life could be different if you were able to tackle your issue(s) successfully and use the motivation this process gives you to take the necessary step.

AMAZON RESOURCE #3

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Inhale confidence, exhale doubt. – Unknown Author

I love journaling because it is a safe place for me to put my feelings and emotions into words, then put my words into action. Remember, journaling is your very own personal journey throughout life, your ups and downs, your successes and failures. In addition, journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Keep in mind that this is a journey. Everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

• What does it look like for you to take a step of courage right in this very moment?

• List one dream you have for your life. What would this dream look like to be full of hope, even if you don’t know how your story is going to end?

• Write about a door you know God has closed in your life. How did you find the courage to work through this experience?

• What are five things that make you nervous or uncomfortable?

• What is it about each of these five things that bothers you most?

• Have there been times in your life when you’ve needed to be courageous? Take a moment to write about the situation and what you did to overcome your fears.

• Is there someone in your life whom you would characterize as courageous? If so, write about what you admire about this person and their courage.

• Describe an area of your life in which you wish you were more courageous? What is it, and how would you benefit?

SHARING WITH ONE ANOTHER

You are strong. You are brave. You are oh so loved. – Unknown Author

Let’s take a moment to share with one another. How are you planning on conquering self-doubt as it occurs in your life? What are some of your favorite affirmations? Do you journal often? If so, how does journaling help you conquer self-doubt?

Please share your responses in the comment below so we can learn and grow together. I am excited to hear from you. Until next time, stay encouraged, stay healthy, and stay safe!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).