‘Want to know what happens when you begin asserting boundaries? Here are both the pros and cons when you establish your boundaries.
Asserting boundaries is so important and if you’re anything like I was at one time, too scared to do it. Then you’re probably wondering what it is that encourages others to stand up for themselves.
As someone who has overcome the fear of establishing personal limits, I’m giving you all the reasons why you should. Also, I’m warning you of all that happens if you don’t.
You will learn about the importance of asserting boundaries. Moreover, you’re going to learn about the positive and negative results of doing do.
Once you learn about all these things, you will be more encouraged and motivated to assert your rights not to be abused. Also, you will be more emboldened to stand your ground for as long as it takes until you are finally free of bullies and abusers.
This post is all about asserting boundaries so that you can take back your personal power and live in peace and happiness.
Asserting boundaries
Here’s how the pros outweigh the cons:
People will accuse you of having “An Attitude”
Many times, when you begin to set boundaries and refuse to lower your standards, others, especially abusive others, will accuse you of having “an attitude.” This is what will happen once you finally take enough abuse and put your foot down and you should expect it.
Understand you will get that response when you either say no to something you don’t like. Moreover, people will give you the same response any time you refuse to be manipulated or to take abuse.
Therefore, it’s better to accept, even embrace, the reality that others will see you as having an attitude when you stand on your principles.
For example, toxic teachers will call you insubordinate. Abusive managers and supervisors will tell you that you’re not a team player. Also, bullying peers will see you as a ‘difficult’ person to be around, and that’s only a very mild version of what they may call you.
Asserting boundaries helps you separate real friends from the fakes.
Understand that anytime you enforce your boundaries and standards, you threaten the power of your bullies and abusers. Furthermore, you expose the manipulative people in your life through the limits you set.
Therefore, you see them more clearly. Why? Because you force them to tell off on themselves through their reactions.
Through having boundaries and standards, you can better tell the difference between real friends and fake ones. In other words, you can better see which people are truly for you and value your friendship. You find out which ones are only in your life because they want something from you. This is one of the most important pros!
bullies and abusers feel they have carte blanche to abuse you
Like all abusers, bullies feel entitled to devalue you and expect you to “just go with the flow” and not object to it. With these types of people, your healthy boundaries and standards are an insult to them. Why? Because they don’t recognize limits.
In their minds, anything goes, and the world and everything in it is one big free-for-all. In other words, any rules, laws, or limits don’t apply to them.
Bullies and frenemies believe they should have carte blanche to treat you any way they choose. They get super offended when you get enough of their abuse and finally have the courage to put your foot down.
Accept that you will lose people you think are friends when you establish boundaries and standards. And they will often be the people you’d never expect.
But realize that these peoples’ condescension and dismissal are only proof of their discomfort and their only recourse. Bullies can’t handle an assertive person of incredible strength because they can never meet them on their level. These are only a few of the cons.
setting limits allows you growth, safety, and freedom
Also, understand that you cannot grow, be safe, or be free if you don’t set boundaries. In many cases, people go out of their way to prevent targets of bullying from imposing any limits.
It seems that boundaries and standards are okay for anyone else but strictly prohibited for targets.
But realize that you cannot continue to live your life as a doormat. Therefore, you must dig deep and pull out the courage to establish your boundaries, which include,
Physical boundaries
Psychological boundaries
Time boundaries
Material boundaries
Intellectual boundaries
Sometimes you must “Cop an Attitude” to defend your rights.
You are a flesh-and-blood human being who has rights! And sometimes, you must “cop an attitude” to defend those rights.
You must enforce your boundaries from relentless bullies and others who won’t take no for an answer. Also, you must set consequences for those who continue to violate your boundaries after you’ve told them to stop it.
When you set firm boundaries and standards and enforce them, you protect your physical well-being, emotional health, self-esteem, and identity from anyone who seeks to destroy them.
Moreover, you make yourself an individual human being who asserts your right to make your own choices and decisions.
Your boundaries and standards are the invisible fortresses surrounding you with protection. They keep you safe from harm.
When you set boundaries, it means that you don’t allow others to take advantage of you. It also means that you refuse to be a pushover.
In other words, you won’t let other people make you do things that aren’t in line with your goals, values, morals, or convictions. In short, you don’t allow others to manipulate you.
And it requires that you call out anyone who tries to stick so much as a toe over those boundaries.
Be Assertive but not aggressive. Be strong but not overbearing.
You’re assertive but not overly aggressive. You’re strong but not overbearing. When you say no, you mean it, and you say it without feeling guilty over not saying yes.
And when you do say yes to others, you can do it without saying no to yourself.
Sadly, it can be hard to set boundaries and standards, especially when dealing with overly-aggressive bullies who have anger issues. Our first instinct is to protect ourselves any way we can- even if it means we must appease these people to ensure our safety.
Many targets have zero boundaries. They feel that to keep bullies from causing further harm, they must always bend over backward to make sure the people around them feel comfortable and at ease. You should never feel you must live this way!
But here’s the positiive side. Assertiveness builds courage and, with it, your self-esteem.
Not asserting boundaries works only temporarily because bullies and abusers always come back for more.
Many targets don’t feel strong enough to keep invaders out of their bubble. And it’s because of this that they feel like they’ve let themselves down because they didn’t stand up to their abusers.
Moreover, they feel like failures when they’re unable to enforce their boundaries and standards. I’ve been there and, let me tell ya! It’s the worst feeling in the world.
I want you to understand that, no matter what others may tell you or how they may act, it’s okay to refuse their disrespect. It’s okay to say no to bullying.
Know that you owe it to yourself to say stop to those who insist they have the right to cross your boundaries and invade your space. You have every right to disallow others to disrupt your peace. Know that you deserve a seat at the table of life, not one in the corner.
Realize that setting boundaries and standards is not having an“attitude.” It’s your right!
You must accept that toxic people will put up a ton of resistance to any limitations you set in place. Therefore, take this as a given!
The upside is that the resistance you get will give you clues to who your real friends aren’t.
Resistance is soooo telling! It can help you find out who’s really for your good and who isn’t.
It’s never smart to be a yes-person. Caring about others is great but caring too much is unhealthy.
You need boundaries and standards because, without them, you subject yourself to living your life on autopilot. Put simpler, you’re a car without a steering wheel- a ship without a rudder!
But with boundaries, you have a rudder, and you can chart your life’s course. The winds and currents may change, and the waters might get rough. You may even go off course, but you’ll still have some degree of direction.
In setting boundaries and standards, you’re not completely powerless over what happens to you. You have some say over your destiny.
That’s why it’s crucial that you stand in your power and speak your truth. Never lower yourself and make yourself less than the awesome person you are. Never settle for less than what you want and deserve.
Put yourself first. Stop being a people pleaser. Stop putting your wants and needs on the back burner to keep others satisfied. Practice self-love and self-care.
Accept that people won’t handle it well and be willing to let them go because they don’t deserve a seat at your table. Once you do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much better life gets and how many people of integrity and sound quality come into your life.
This post was all about pros and cons of asserting boundaries and how doing so can help you take back your personal power and your say in your life’s direction.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. Setting Boundaries: 3 Powerful Practices to Hold Your Ground
2. Phrases to Shut Down a Gaslighter: 9 Powerful Statements to Use
3. How to Respond to Darvo: 7 Powerful Ways to Shut it Down
4. Defending Yourself from Bullies: 11 Best Defenses
