Setting Boundaries
Positive affirmation for the day — day 5
This is part of a daily series about positive affirmations and how they can benefit our lives.
Affirmation of the day:
“My personal boundaries are important and I’m allowed to express my needs to others.”
Explanation
This affirmation captures the concept that we have some control over our lives, whatever our role, whatever the situation. We don’t have to lose ourselves in our quest to please others.
We still have a right to sometimes say “no”, or “I don’t want to do that”, to assert our own needs, or to have some time to ourselves, some “me time”. We don’t have to completely sacrifice our sense of self in trying to serve others. We can set boundaries to what we will accept. This need may arise regardless of our role.
Parent power
For example as parents we often sacrifice a huge amount of ourselves to help our children. That is only right: it was our choice to bring them into the world. However we are still allowed some time to ourselves, occasionally time to enjoy a hobby, to retain our sense of self. Sometimes this has to be negotiated with a partner or children, but it is important: one day children move on, and we still need to have a life of our own!
Power in the workplace
Or as employees we may be so subsumed into our role in an organisation that we may forget that work is not everything, that we have a life outside of work, that work is a means to an ends, not an end in itself. That the company does not own us. We still have rights. There are limits to what an employer can demand. As a last resort we can withdraw our labour or change jobs.
Personal power
In a relationship it is also important to be assertive. This is a way of seeking to meet our needs not through being aggressive, or manipulative, but simply saying what we want in a measured and reasonable way, sometimes compromising to meet a partner half way, but not caving in so that we are left with nothing. Just as parents see children grow up and move away, or as employees we may change job, there are limits and boundaries to a relationship. It is important for us to set them, to retain our sense of self and dignity.
So whatever our situation or role, setting boundaries is important to retain our sense of self-worth and dignity. Affirming this as part of our daily ritual, and strengthening it by repetition, can help us thrive.
I hope you found this affirmation useful and do share any of your own that you find helpful in the comments.
Day 1 tip: Strong and capable
Day 2 tip: An opportunity to grow
Day 3 tip: Building resilience
Day 4 tip: Being human
For more information on the power of positive affirmations: