"Creating emotional boundaries increases our sense of safety and allows us to interact with others from a place of inner strength and calm. Our defensiveness usually results from feelings of powerlessness, fear, or intense vulnerability.
Rather than striking out at perceived threats in an effort to defend ourselves, we can understand that our sense of safety and protection comes from within. As we learn to build up our confidence and inner strength, we develop the ability to detach from negativity and we no longer feel so vulnerable. We then benefit from a sense of safety and inner balance and the ability to handle any situation with a cool, calm, and contained attitude.
By setting strong emotional boundaries today, you are affirming your ability to take care of yourself in any situation."
Source: Daily OM
This concept of emotional boundaries peaked my curiosity.
While the concept makes sense, where are the boundaries formed? It doesn't mention a vacation to get away from it all, or take a day to just stay in bed and not think about anything distressful.
Where is that place of inner strength and calm when we need that emotional boundaries? The two words denote anything other than strength and calm. I know these times take me to feelings of powerlessness and fear and the threat of vulnerability surrounds me.
To say that it resides in the mind is totally unrealistic to me, although I know we can do anything we choose to do. However, in those emotional times we are referring to, strength is the last thing I can grasp.
I can say from personal experience that being alone in a comfort zone can provide that safe environment. My retreat can be the sanctity of my back yard, which was soothing and beautiful, filled with the sounds of nature. The squirrels playfully running up and down the trees, the birds singing their beautiful songs, the winds in the trees creating nature's wind chimes to soothe the soul. The beach can be the perfect comfort zone as long as you can be alone, as a fishing pier can be that perfect place for a man.
The comfort zone can eventually take my mind to that place of solace where the boundary can exist, but I can assure you that, at least for me, it can not just appear in my mind. I'm not that strong in those times and I have a feeling it is the same for most of us.
The unhealthy thing is to depend on alcohol or a magic pill to create the boundary for us. My pill doctors would for sure have quite the opposite answer. But in order to develop the inner strength that is depicted in the post, it must come naturally from within.
I'm sure that it is safe for me to say that everyone has these times. I don't believe that anyone is perfectly emotionally balanced. We all have our ways of coping and I believe it is through these "time outs" in our comfort zones that helps us reach that place where the emotional boundary can exist.
What do you think?
