Welcome to Toward Better Boundaries: A Thirty Day Practice.
I’m honored that you’ve chosen to be here with me, and with this community of people from all around the world, who are choosing to practice boundaries together.
A few things to know before we begin:
Please share as much or as little of your writing and insights as you would like, in the comments. Please feel free to respond to the comments of others, especially when someone else’s work is helpful to you.
Please feel free to use a pseudonym or simply “anonymous” if that helps you to feel more comfortable.
Some tips on the daily writing prompts:
The goal is to be writing for about 20 minutes, which is a research-based length of time.
You’re not trying to produce a publishable manuscript; you’re just allowing yourself to be heard. JUST WRITE, stream-of-consciousness style.
I personally write longhand, in a nice journal, with my favorite Pilot G-2 pens when I’m doing work like this. Others may find that typing into a google doc or a blog site is a better fit.
As you begin writing each day, it may be helpful to write the prompt out two or three times. If you get stuck during the 20 minutes, writing out the prompt again is often helpful.
It’s also helpful, when you are stuck, to attend to your body and your emotions. Notice how your body feels. Write about that. Name any emotions that are coming up for you, and write about those.
Pay attention to how your body feels and name your emotions during your daily writing time. Not only will this help you get unstuck while writing, it’s also a very important practice in attending to yourself—and self-attention is absolutely necessary to boundaries. Knowing what’s okay and not okay so often begins with an awareness of our bodies and emotions. If my body is tense, I know that something is not right, even before I have the words to describe the problem. Practice self-attention in the quiet of your journaling time, and you’ll be better tethered to that sense of self when you’re out in the rest of your day.
While you can begin your practice any time, here’s a pre-practice prompt to journal over:
How will my life be different as a result of this thirty-day boundaries practice?