the beauty of boundaries: breaking it down
following on from the gentle art of boundaries: where your story began let’s go a little deeper.
when you first begin to explore boundaries, it can feel like a lot -
overwhelming, consuming, like you don’t even know where to start.
as if you’ve suddenly been asked to understand your limits,
to become your own protector,
after years of bending, just trying to fit in.
but boundaries don’t have to be built all at once.
here, we gently break them into smaller parts,
to help you understand where you can begin.
there are many types of boundaries
but for now, we’ll start with six:
physical, emotional, intellectual, time, material, and self.
the six boundaries
1.physical boundaries
these begin with your body.
your space. your skin.
they include how close someone stands, how they touch you,
and how you honour your need for rest, movement, food, and stillness.
you might set a physical boundary by saying,
i need a bit more space,
or by turning off your phone when your body asks for quiet.
physical boundaries are the quiet yes of self-care
and the sacred no of self-protection.
2.emotional boundaries
these begin with your body.
your space. your skin.
they include how close someone stands, how they touch you,
and how you honour your need for rest, movement, food, and stillness.
these are the soft walls of your inner world.
they let you express your feelings without guilt,
and protect you from taking on what isn’t yours.
you might set an emotional boundary by saying,
i’m not in a place to hold that right now,
or by choosing not to engage when someone projects their pain onto you.
emotional boundaries help you stay connected
to what’s yours and what’s not.
3.intellectual boundaries
these protect your thoughts, opinions, and beliefs.
they allow for open-minded conversation without fear of ridicule or shame.
you might notice an intellectual boundary when someone repeatedly dismisses your ideas,
or when you find yourself silencing your voice to avoid conflict.
you’re allowed to speak.
and you’re allowed to walk away from spaces
that don’t make room for your mind.
4.time boundaries
these honour your energy, your calendar, your capacity.
they help you say, i can’t today, without guilt.
time boundaries support your balance - between work and rest,
connection and solitude, giving and receiving.
it might look like blocking out time for yourself on a Sunday
or saying no to plans when you’re already stretched thin.
your time is sacred. you get to protect it.
5. material boundaries
these include your home, your money, your car, your clothes
whatever you’ve poured time, care, or energy into.
you might set a material boundary by saying,
“i’m not comfortable lending this out,”
or asking for things to be treated with care.
you’re allowed to be generous.
and you’re allowed to honour what’s yours.
6.self-boundaries
these are the quiet vows you make to yourself.
they shape how you move through the world,
how you speak to yourself,
and how you respond when no one’s looking.
self-boundaries might sound like:
i don’t scroll late at night anymore,
or i always have one night in for me
this is the foundation of your integrity.
you’re not just keeping promises - you’re becoming the kind of person
you can trust.
the understanding
but understanding the difference between being kind, setting boundaries, and being rigid or inflexible isn’t always easy.
it’s why this work takes time.
not just to begin honouring your boundaries
but to truly understand them.
to know where they come from.
o sense when they’re aligned
and when they might be coming from fear.
it can feel confusing. it can feel hard.
but it’s okay to take your time.
the method
in the method, we’ll explore a gentle practice
to help you begin uncovering each of these six boundaries
so you can start to recognise what feels true for you.
and from that place of clarity,
begin to build something grounded.
something real.
something that honours who you truly are.
