Words That Grow Wings —

Know Your Limits

What I believe, and one of the constants that I write about are boundaries, and the need to establish them early in life. Boundaries are limits, and like many decisions we make along the way are subject to revision as we grow and change.

By spending time defining our beliefs and values, we get to know ourself - and begin to assign limits —

We need to think about and choose limits we are willing to allow, and are right for who we are and who we wish to become. We explore the kind of ideas, opinions, attitudes and experiences we want in our life, and recognize those we don’t want.

These limits include physical, mental, psychological and spiritual boundaries. The process helps us define our beliefs and values, allowing us to make choices in line with who we are, and how we wish to move forward.

By spending time clarifying our beliefs and values, we get to know ourself, our inner self. When we have confidence in ourself, it improves our relationships because we don’t become involved in those we know won’t work. This includes both personal and business relationships. We define, and begin to know who we are, what we are about, and what we need to ensure that we stay on the right track.

Challenging our beliefs and values, and setting boundaries in our relationships and interactions, frees us to stress less and keep our feelings and emotions working for us - not against us. When we know what we need to stay positive and upbeat, we can withstand life’s vagaries. It is an essential part of living to be self-aware, to know who we are, so when people and situations start to push us beyond our limits, we say halt — stop right there — you have reached the limit of my endurance.

If we don’t set boundaries, if we don’t forge a cutoff point, we can’t know when we are trespassed or infringed upon. When our decisions are based on our core values, which include our limits, our boundaries, we exert more control over our life.

Ultimately, we are all responsible for our own decisions, and when they go south, we pay the price. When we exercise our core values, we win more of the time. Our beliefs and core values are the foundation upon which we create our life. They work to preserve and enhance our sense of self, our confidence in who we are, what we do, and the direction of our life.