Setting boundaries comes with a number of benefits. This is something we’ve discussed throughout our journey thus far. An added advantage to creating and sticking to personal limits is the positive feeling you walk away with when you do. It’s empowering you to your needs first and to live according to your values. Maintaining your boundaries leads to also maintaining your self-respect. You’ll notice enhanced confidence when you set boundaries and enforce them on a regular basis. Let’s take a closer look at what that means.
Assess Your Values
When you set personal boundaries, you’ll find you’re adhering to your own set of personal values. This is liberating. It feels good to live in congruence with your beliefs. You won’t build up resentment from giving into the demands of others or putting their comfort ahead of your own. Knowing what’s important to you and living accordingly will help you to live a more authentic life that feels more genuine and freeing to you. When you understand what matters to you and then choose to live accordingly, you’ll simply feel better about yourself.
Maintain Consistency
Setting and adhering to your own boundaries on a regular basis communicates clarity and consistency to those around you. They will respect you when they know what to expect from you. Following through on the boundaries you set is crucial to this step. You won’t feel confident if you’re not able to stick by your stated limits. However, once you learn to do that, you’ll notice you hold yourself in higher esteem and so will the people around you.
Know Your Worth
Finally, setting clear and consistent boundaries is a sign that you know your own worth. You value yourself. You send this message to others when you stand firm in the time you’ve set aside for yourself or when you prioritize your own needs. Doing so isn’t selfish. It’s a matter of self-respect. When you set yourself as a high priority, you’re communicating your worth to others. You’re letting them know that you value yourself, your time and your resources. You’re not willing to give these things away erratically. They must be earned. You’ll begin to respect yourself more and feel more confident each time you hold firm on your boundaries. You’ll start to believe you’re worthy of such measures.
Setting and enforcing boundaries is one way to increase your self-esteem significantly. Start to practice this on a regular basis, and you’ll soon see your confidence soar.
