Sometimes we respond to others, and the world, in ways that cause us to, in hindsight, think “if only I had said…” or “I wish I had done…”. There are two reasons we might feel that way. We have either not recognized, in the moment, that someone has violated a personal boundary, or we do not know how to respond when a boundary has been violated. In both cases, this is often because we have not clearly defined our boundaries or considered how we wish to respond when someone violates those boundaries.
Establishing healthy boundaries will help:
- Improve your self-esteem and sense of self,
- Teach others to respect you,
- Improve your relationships (loved ones, friends, and colleagues),
- Preserve your energy.
This worksheet will help you identify both your boundaries and your planned responses.