Protect and empower yourself.
Workplaces, public establishments, governments, schools, and almost everything else we can think of have policies; but as women, one of the mistakes we make that give our power away is failing to establish and enforce our own personal policies called personal boundaries.
Personal boundaries have a great deal to do with locating and protecting our inner power — the very thing that fuels women but is so often missing due to the mistakes we make that give this power away. Therefore, we seek that boost, comfort and support from others of questionable self-esteem and motives themselves.
Instead of understanding how to set boundaries, we fail and give into our own doubts. There may be many other reasons, but these three are very common:
- Fear of what people will think and say when we tell them how we want to be treated
- Feeling unworthy of the treatment we desire and thinking we're getting what we deserve
- A lack of role models who've shown us the benefits of personal boundaries
Don't waste anymore time; you can start setting boundaries, feeling empowered, and reclaiming your power.
Step 1: Establish personal boundaries.
Realize that your life and body and inner power belong to you and you must protect them with personal boundaries. Decide what is acceptable and unacceptable to you and make lists of both.
Example: Is it acceptable or unacceptable for people to:
- Use foul language when speaking to you?
- Touch you when you haven't invited them to?
- Attempt to persuade you when you say "No"?
- Smoke cigarettes in your presence?
- Speak to you disrespectfully?
- Make jokes at your expense?
- Drive recklessly when you're in their vehicle?
Establish your boundaries when you have clear thought and feel emotionally stable so they are healthy and make sense.
Step 2: Enforce those boundaries.
Determine what you will say and do when someone gets close to or crosses your boundary; because they will.
Example: When someone speaks to me disrespectfully I will:
- Tell them I require respect when being spoken to.
- Let them know their language or tone is unacceptable and share how I want to be spoken to.
- Turn and walk away quietly.
Remember: Establishing and enforcing personal boundaries is much easier when you first meet someone. Enforcing boundaries with people already in your life who disrespect you will straighten them up or they will leave your life. Those who truly care about you will respect you even more!
Protect your value, emotions and inner power by establishing and enforcing personal boundaries. You will see your life change for the better immediately.
Kelly Rudolph, founder of Positive Women Rock, takes women from stuck and stressed to clear and confident by showing them how to tap into their inner power.