Times of Stress

Healthy boundaries allow us to preserve our individualism while sharing our lives with others. Maintaining healthy boundaries is crucial to our sense of well-being. The health and strength of our boundaries are vital in allowing for easy flowing and healthy relationships with those in our lives, and pleasant experiences with the people we run into as we go about our days. This article is based on my books. They all focus on some aspect of "Our Journeys to Peace." Links to About Books is here When reasonable and healthy boundaries are being respected, there are no blurred lines between what is comfortable for us – physically and emotionally – and what is not. When around others, we either feel normal, comfortable, and safe. Or we do not. We don’t engage with people who criticize us. Suffocate us. Emotionally bombard us. Nor do we allow others to take advantage of us. Healthy boundaries set the groundwork for feeling comfortable around others and having satisfying give-and-take relationships. ~  With unhealthy boundaries, we are often frustrated and disappointed in our communications with others, as well as in our relationships in general. ~ Unhealthy boundaries are either too closed or too wide open. People with healthy boundaries are confident and well-balanced. They know themselves. And who or what they can deal with – without negative repercussions. Healthy boundaries act as sort of a protection mechanism, although confident and well-balanced people don’t really need protection. Their confidence and sense of self guide them to make good choices. We All Handle Life and Stress Differently We all have different energy levels, emotional strengths, abilities to handle change and stress, tendency and capacity to give, and response levels to those in need – emotionally or physically. For many of us, much of this has recently been taxed. I think we all feel the need for a nice long vacation.? At the same time, there is way more need around us than ever before. We have all been thrown for a loop, and we have all reacted in different ways. Some of us have been greatly affected, while others of us have taken it all more in stride. And some of us have even appreciated the extra quiet time. If we have been affected, we must ensure we remain healthy and emotionally balanced – even if that means reigning in activities or commitments to others. For those of us who have managed it all more easily, we may have been able to help others get through this past year. Being of service and helping others can feel wonderful and be very fulfilling. For others of us, we have needed all of our strength to look after only our self, as it has been a daily struggle to just stay afloat. And some of us have needed lots of help to get through it all. Thank goodness for the many angels on earth who had the extra energy to give and came to our rescue. ? This pandemic has caused many of us to have [...]