If you’re anything like me, you struggle with setting a boundary with others because you don’t want to disappoint anyone. I make myself overly available to keep those around me comfortable with zero regards for my own comfort. I take on too much responsibility and set a high expectation for myself to help others. Over time, I realized I cannot always be there when asked, and I am allowed to take a step back.
I have always been the person to drop what I was doing in order to care for another person and take the weight off their shoulders. Recognizing that I was not taking care of myself in the ways, I should so someone else had an easier time was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in the last year. With the help of colleagues, I became more comfortable with saying “no”; not just when I was already preoccupied but when I also was uninterested in completing a task not required of me.
It’s uncomfortable to begin setting boundaries, but it is extremely necessary. Personally, setting these boundaries has made me feel more empowered. I have realized who had me in their life for the sole purpose of knowing I would be there if they asked. I now have people who respect my boundaries and put up their own.