Set your boundaries and feel good doing it

Have you ever felt you are being stretched in all imaginable directions trying to satisfy other peoples' needs and requests?
It is not uncommon for a majority of people in this world to have felt or currently feel that kind of pressure to in their lives.
It is inevitable that others will have demands for our time - be it our coworkers, our parents, our children, or our friends. Each of us is so important in other people's lives that we will constantly have new requests to attend to.
However, it is also important to come to terms with the fact that we are human. In addition to giving and serving others, we also require our own recharge or breather time.
We can only recharge and gain our energies back when we set up boundaries so that our needs and requests are also met by others.
How do you know you need to set (or reemphasize!) your boundaries? Because you start feeling irritated, anxious, stressed, tired, and just going through the motions in your everyday tasks. You start to feel drained.
So, how can you step-up and make your needs known?
1. Don't be afraid to sound assertive: It is true, people respect those who know themselves and what they want. Be that person. Let others know you care for them and need to set up those boundaries to be able to keep caring for them.
2. Don't take criticism personally: It is also true there will be people who will despise you for knowing yourself and your needs. Let them be them. As the quote goes, "those who don't care, don't matter. And those who matter, will always care".
3. Love yourself and surround yourself with people who want your success: When you hold yourself as a priority in YOUR own life, people will see that and respect it. Don't be afraid or shy. Seek people who understand and share your values. Support each other in your goals and feel good doing it.
One last thought I would like to share: Don't forget to set up boundaries for yourself, too (seriously!). Sometimes it is you - and only you - who makes too many demands on yourself. Realize what you are doing and set boundaries for yourself to follow. Be assertive, don't criticize yourself, and love yourself for setting up those boundaries.
It might be an uncomfortable feeling doing this the first couple of times, but with time and practice you'll discover the freedom that comes from setting up your boundaries and living them.
What other tips and tricks have you found work in setting up your boundaries? Let me know down in the comments. I would love to hear from you. Let's connect!
Trust the process. Live the commitment