Boundaries: Taking Back Your Peace

One of the most integral parts of unlocking your peace is implementing boundaries. This is something that most of us find very uncomfortable because we never truly learned how to say no. We say yes to so many different things for so many different reasons. We say yes because saying no is impolite. We say it because if we don't we may upset someone. We fear being looked at as a bad friend, family member, partner, or parent. 

​​The problem with this is that we create resentment in ourselves. And it's not anyone else's fault because they had no idea that we did not want to do all of these things. We never said it. Then we find ourselves in need and we notice the ease that others have in saying no. This doesn't feel good. It feels imbalanced. "How dare they protect their space and their time when I never did!"

One of the most integral parts of unlocking your peace is implementing boundaries. This is something that most of us find very uncomfortable because we never truly learned how to say no. We say yes to so many different things for so many different reasons. We say yes because saying no is impolite. We say it because if we don't we may upset someone. We fear being looked at as a bad friend, family member, partner, or parent. 

​​The problem with this is that we create resentment in ourselves. And it's not anyone else's fault because they had no idea that we did not want to do all of these things. We never said it. Then we find ourselves in need and we notice the ease that others have in saying no. This doesn't feel good. It feels imbalanced. "How dare they protect their space and their time when I never did!"

Setting these boundaries is not easy. People who are used to having access to you on their time and in their way, may be very thrown off. But they have a choice, they can adjust to your new found boundaries or they can continue to push against them. It will be up to you wether or not you need to remove some people from your life or just interact with them differently.

​​I challenge you to start practicing saying no today. Say it in the mirror, quietly, loudly, as many different ways that you can think of until you get the courage to say it someone else. And remember that every time you say no to something or someone that does not bring your spirit peace, you are saying yes to yourself and drawing that much closer to unlocking your inner peace. 

​Ashley Hooker
Founder of Peaceful Places, Inc. and Licensed Professional Counselor