Last week I published a piece on what I’ve called the Boundaries Blueprint. It’s now available in ebook format for paid subscribers. See download link below.
It’s such a rich topic, boundaries. There’s a lot of ground to cover. And, as I finished the piece for last week, that’s what I thought about. Beginning to understand how we manage our relationships is just that – a beginning.
When you start to see your life through the lens of the blueprint, questions arise. Some of these I pointed out in the piece. E.g., who is too close to my CORE? These are the obvious ones. Then, the real question becomes “what do I do about it.” We’ll table that question for now. This is where good coaching or counseling can be a game changer.
The Boundaries Blueprint
On a Monday evening, more than 20 years ago, I sat in a therapist’s office and described my conflicted relationship with my older brother. At the time, I was stuck in a painfully familiar pattern.
There are plenty more. Here are a few to consider, or even use as journaling prompts. It helps to start with an individual. Maybe you have a problematic relationship with a parent, a partner, or an employer. Think in terms of triage. Start in the center and work your way out.
Who is the person closest to you and why?
Do you trust them?
Do you trust this person because you’re “supposed to,” or have they actually earned your trust?
Do they treat you with respect? How do they speak to you? Like an equal?
Once you look closely at individual relationships, you might begin to see patterns. What do the people closest to you have in common?
Much more to come on boundaries. Please share any questions or comments you might have.
Thank you to Jane Binns, for becoming a paid subscriber. Jane is the author of a beautiful mamoir called Broken Whole. She was featured as a guest in episode 42 of The Path to Authenticity.
Have a great weekend.
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