Boundaries.

“Besides my son, boundaries are my greatest creation.”

2022 reminded me that establishing strong boundaries is one of the measures of being a responsible adult. Knowing your limits and allowances make for much better decision making. Boundaries will be established in all spectrums of life from the boundaries you establish personally.  Personal boundaries are the rules and limits we set for ourselves and others in our relationships. I realized I needed stronger boundaries once I found myself in cycles of discomfort. Whenever any form of pain or dis-ease comes in cycles I know that it's something I’m not doing, more speficially a lesson that I am not learning and applying. God gives us chances with our mistakes and oftentimes we make the same mistake over and over again until that process of fixing our own mistake becomes what we work toward. Once I realized this I began to analyze the cycles I was in. What could I do to escape them? The thing I was missing was strong boundaries. It was not clear what I would allow for myself because I was allowing circumstances to determine my boundaries.

 “A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect.” That quote drives this idea home. 

Let’s take a second to define respect. Respect is defined as due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. Wishes and traditions stand out for me in that definition. Respecting my boundaries is respecting my wishes. Boundaries and wishes are synonymous. In that same breath I have to know that establishing strong boundaries is honoring my own wishes. Standing in the wishes I have for myself creates the foundation for strong boundaries to be established in my relationships.

Allow this to serve as a reminder that you are allowed to wish, let your relationships reflect those wishes as boundaries.