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twitter thread from Olivia Vizachero, thelessstressedlawyer
Here are some examples of boundaries that aren’t actual boundaries.
Not A Boundary: “You can’t email me on the weekends.”
A Proper Boundary: “If you email me on the weekend, I will not respond until Monday.”
Not A Boundary: “You can’t talk to me like that.”
A Proper Boundary: “If you talk to me like that, I will hang up the phone.”
Not A Boundary: “You need to respect my time.”
A Proper Boundary: “I will end the meeting at the scheduled time.”
Not A Boundary: “You need to be more considerate and thoughtful.”
A Proper Boundary: “I would like you to do these specific things for me and if you don’t, that’s okay, but I will not invest more time [into] this relationship.”
Not A Boundary: “You need to show up on time.”
A Proper Boundary: “If you are late, we will not wait for you.”
Not A Boundary: “You need to give me less work.”
A Proper Boundary: “I will not work more than 50 hours a week.”
Not A Boundary: “You need to do a better job.”
A Proper Boundary: “If you don’t make these three specific improvements by the end of the quarter, I will give you a negative review.”
Boundaries are not mandates for other people to follow.
Boundaries are not demands.
Boundaries are not expectations.
Boundaries are not ultimatums.
Boundaries are not idle threats.
Here’s what a boundary is…
It’s a particular course of action YOU take to take care of yourself when a particular set of circumstances arises.
That’s it.
It’s about what YOU do.
Not about what THEY do.
Ever.