SET HEALTHY BOUNDARIES IN RELATIONSHIPS

“A healthy relationship is one in which love enriches you; not imprisons you.” — Steve Maraboli

Everyone deserves to be in a healthy, loving relationship, and with the right person by your side, a healthy relationship is completely attainable. If one follows these aspects it will be easy to have a full happy and healthy relationship and live life to the fullest.

Communication

Boundaries are an integral part of healthy relationships because they help to maintain a balance between you and your partner. They also help minimize conflict, because they establish a precedent for what you both expect from each other. Having boundaries can actually bring you closer to your partner because they are set through open communication.

Be Honest About What You Need

Communicating transparently is an important part of every healthy relationship. When discussing boundaries with your partner, being honest about what you are comfortable with or not comfortable with will ensure that they know what you truly expect from them. You could even try writing down your expectations so that you are clear about what you want when sharing them with your partner.

Designate When You Need Space

Both of you need your freedom, your space. Let's work to ensure that no one encroaches into the other’s space. If you’re spending a lot of time together right now, be sure to communicate with each other about when you need time alone. It’s just as important to set aside time for yourself as it is to have quality time with the person you love.

Communicate With Respect

Healthy relationships include respect from both sides. The best way to communicate your boundaries with your partner is with compassion, understanding, and respect for each other’s expectations. Having respect each time you communicate will ultimately make your relationship healthier and stronger.

Set healthy boundaries in any relationship:

If you have a feeling that you are taken for granted or taken advantage of, you need to set boundaries to protect your mental health first and foremost. If you remain silent you are agreeing with them to treat you in the manner they like. You should be at least able to stand up for yourself.

Listening: Pay attention without distractions (put your phone away) when the other person is talking; try to maintain eye contact in a conversation.

Here are a few tips to set boundaries in a relationship.

· Learn to say “No”: You should be able to say “No” when you do not agree with the other person. You do not have to give an explanation to satisfy the other.

· Identify the intention of the other person: Recognize the intentions of the other person. Do not allow anyone to put their words into your mouth.

· Don’t allow disrespect: Don’t allow anyone to talk with you with disrespect for everyone has self-respect. Walk away from such a situation to maintain peace.

· Set your freedom: Let not your freedom be at stake. Let not anyone treat you as a slave by domination or deceive you by misrepresentation or deceit. Everyone has equal rights under the law of the country. Continued submission in a relationship spoils it and correction comes with a big price.

· Focus on health and not rules: Eat food that is healthy and nutritious rather than following customs and traditions.

· Practice mindfulness: Live in the moment for a happy life. When we are mindful, we reduce stress, enhance performance, gain insight and awareness through observing our own mind, and increase our attention to other’s well-being.

· Self-respect: Accept yourself, be your best friend, and look at yourself in the mirror every day to see the best person in the world who has been your shadow in life.

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” — Mother Teresa