Aug/Sept 2021 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 42

42 www . AspireMAG . net | August / September 2021
Some people at first may push against a boundary if you have not set this boundary before , but over time , they will recognize the boundary ’ s importance to you as you continue to set it . You may also find that people unwilling to respect your boundaries are people you may want to limit the amount of time you spend with . Being consistent with our boundaries will require an ongoing cultivation of courage and is a powerful practice of self-nurturing .
Setting boundaries are also critical for nurturing ourselves as they reinforce the importance of listening to our feelings , acknowledging what we need , and prioritizing what is important to us . Developing a practice of listening to ourselves by pausing throughout the day and checking in with how we are feeling and what we need can support our ability to set boundaries and honor them . Taking a mindful pause to tune in to yourself in an ongoing way will help feed your confidence and courage to know how and when to set and honor your boundaries both personally and professionally .
As Gina Greenlee wrote , “ Honoring your own boundaries is the clearest message to others to honor them , too .” If we do not enforce our own boundaries , we teach people that we are not serious about them . Over time our boundaries will be seen as optional instead of essential . When we do not honor our own boundaries , we start to lose trust in and respect for ourselves . Not honoring our own boundaries undermines our relationship with ourselves and undermines our worthiness . Instead committing to honor our boundaries feeds our self-worth and value and reminds us how courageous we are !
And the beautiful thing about courage is that it grows like a muscle when we use it . The more you courageously set healthy boundaries in your life , the more empowered you feel and the healthier your relationships will become . Every time you set a healthy boundary ; you give other people permission to do the same creating healthier relationships , families , and communities . Cultivating the courage to set boundaries is definitely how we nurture peace in the world from the inside out . Committing to healthy boundaries is another way to become the artist of your own beautiful life and create powerful ripple effects of health and healing in the world .
As Rachel Wolchin reminds us , “ Givers need to set limits because takers rarely do .”
May you cultivate the courage to set healthy boundaries as you nurture peace in the world from the inside out !
Sending you peace , love and gratitude ,

Kelley

KELLEY GRIMES , MSW - Kelley is an empowering counselor , self-nurturing expert , sought-after speaker , an expert columnist for Aspire Magazine , expert instructor for InspiredLivingUniversity . com and the author of best-selling book , The Art of Self-Nurturing : A Field Guide to Living with More Peace , Joy & Meaning .
She is the founder of Cultivating Peace and Joy , inspiring individuals to nurture peace in the world from the inside out . Kelley is passionate about empowering overwhelmed and exhausted individuals to live with more peace , joy , and meaning through the practice of self-nurturing . She loves working with individuals , couples , and families in person and virtually to transform their lives . In addition , she provides professional and leadership development to organizations dedicated to making the world a better place .
She is honored to have been awarded the Graduate “ Above and Beyond ” Field Instructor Award from San Diego State University and the “ Olive Branch ” Award from Hands of Peace . Download your free Self-Nurturing Starter Kit at www . cultivatingpeaceandjoy . com .

42 www . AspireMAG . net | August / September 2021