Understanding the Importance of Boundaries
As a professional people pleaser, I know a thing about setting boundaries. It has been essential for me to be able to have a work-life balance. Setting boundaries has helped me create a life that is authentically mine.
Think of boundaries as those cozy, invisible bubbles we wrap around ourselves. They’re our guardians, keeping our time, energy, and emotions safe and sound. It’s like we’re telling the world, “Here’s what I’m okay with, and here’s what I’m not,” all while steering our relationships and work life with a clear, confident compass. Drawing these lines is more than just a polite “no, thank you.” It’s a big, bold yes to valuing ourselves, honoring our needs, and putting a spotlight on what’s truly important in our lives.
Practicing Self-Compassion
Setting boundaries is just taking care of yourself in the best way possible. It’s giving yourself some love and saying, “I know my limits, and it’s perfectly fine to stand up for what I need.” When we practice self-compassion, it’s like reminding ourselves that putting our well-being first is not only okay but essential. And guess what? It doesn’t mean we’re any less dedicated or skilled. It simply means we’re smart enough to keep our cups full so we can keep cruising smoothly.
Where Do You Need To Set Boundaries?
- Work-life balance: Limiting work hours to ensure time for personal life and self-care.
- Professional relationships: Defining clear lines between professional and personal interactions.
- Communication: Establishing preferences for communication methods and response times.
Take a moment to reflect on aspects of your life where you feel stretched thin or overwhelmed. These are indicators that boundaries might be needed.
How Do You Set Boundaries?
Boundaries With Your Time
I just want to go over this one specifically because time is our most valuable asset. We never know how much time we have, so we must spend it doing the things we love with the people we love. Guard your time wisely by setting boundaries for what you choose (and choose not) to do with your time. Decide to prioritize free time and learn to say no to things that don’t feel right or that you don’t want to do. Be firm that you’re not going to allow yourself to feel pulled in lots of different directions because of how it makes you feel.
Conclusion
For us ladies, setting boundaries is about keeping our work and personal lives in harmony with self-care and self-love. As we navigate our paths, let’s regularly pause to reflect on our boundaries with a sprinkle of joy and a dash of firmness. Embracing boundary setting is really about earning respect for our needs, leading to a life that’s as balanced and fulfilling as it is productive.
Think of how these boundaries are in the personal brand you share with the world. A professional portrait, then, becomes more than a photo; it’s a testament to your strength, confidence, and the professional lines you draw. This picture speaks volumes, not just about your face, but about your soul, your backbone, and the values you stand tall for. It’s not just an image—it’s your story, boldly told.
Why It Resonates with So Many
There’s something about turning 40 that shifts everything. It’s not just another birthday—it’s a reckoning. A reclamation. A return to myself.
At 44, I find myself in a space I never expected: loving myself more than ever, but also wrestling with everything I was taught about what it means to be enough.
And I know I’m not alone.
The Unbecoming: Shedding Who We Were Told to Be
For years, I played the role of a good friend, good wife, and good daughter. I was the people-pleaser, the woman who put others first. I carried generational beliefs about work, sacrifice, and self-worth that kept me small, apologetic, and constantly proving my value.
But now? Now, I’m in the process of unbecoming—letting go of who I thought I had to be so I can embrace who I really am.
This is why my podcast, Unwritten, resonates with so many people. We talk about life shifts, reinvention, and the courage it takes to walk away from lives, jobs, relationships, or identities that no longer fit. We celebrate those over 40 who are finally stepping into their most authentic selves.
Why Loving Ourselves More Feels So Radical
Loving myself at 44 means acknowledging all the ways I used to betray myself. The times I said yes when I meant no. The times I shrank in relationships or dimmed my light so others wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. The times I waited for permission instead of giving it to myself.
But now, I see self-love as an act of defiance. A revolution.
Loving myself means:
✨ Saying no without guilt.
✨ Choosing joy over obligation.
✨ Letting go of what’s “expected” and embracing what feels right.
✨ Prioritizing my peace, my energy, my dreams.
And I know so many others feel this shift, too.
The Call to Unbecome & Embrace More
If you’re in this space—this in-between of who you were and who you are becoming—I see you. I hear you. And I want you to know: you’re not too late. You’re right on time.
Your story is still being written, and you get to choose what comes next.
At 44, I am loving me more than ever.
And maybe—just maybe—it’s your time to do the same.
What’s Your Next Step?
I’d love to hear from you. What’s one thing you’re embracing more at this stage in your life? Drop a comment below or join me on Unwritten, where we dive deeper into these conversations every week.
Today, I release the weight of doubt and fear.
I am not confined by old thoughts, past limitations, or the illusion of being stuck.
I see clearly now—I have always held the key to my own freedom.
I surrender to the natural flow of life.
The universe is shifting, aligning, unfolding in ways beyond my vision.
I trust in the rhythm of change, knowing that every turn brings new opportunities,
And every challenge is an open door waiting for me to step through.
I stand at the threshold of my own awakening.
I welcome this transformation with an open heart.
I shed the past with grace, making space for my highest self to emerge.
I rise into clarity, purpose, and power,
Ready to receive all that is meant for me.
I am free.
I am in flow.
I am becoming.
✨ So Be it. So it is. ✨
How to Work with This Energy:
- Reflect on what’s holding you back. Are there fears or mental barriers that keep you from moving forward?
- Listen to your inner calling. What is your soul urging you to do? You already know the answer.
- Embrace change. The universe is setting things up for you to step into something greater. Be willing to leave behind old doubts and step into this new phase with confidence.
I call upon the sacred flame within me,
The fire of divine creation, the source of infinite possibility.
I open myself to the whispers of inspiration,
Allowing ideas to flow through me like sacred rivers,
Guided by my highest self, aligned with my deepest truth.
I honor both the fire of action and the flow of receptivity,
Balancing the strength of the Divine Masculine with the wisdom of the Divine Feminine.
I do not force, but I do not shrink.
I move with confidence, yet I trust the unfolding.
I allow creation to bloom through me, naturally and powerfully.
🔥 For my business, I claim expansion.
I step into leadership with grace and certainty.
I embrace new opportunities with courage and joy.
The right people, the right clients, the right abundance flow effortlessly to me.
My work is a vessel for transformation, impact, and prosperity.
🔥 For my space, I claim stability.
I create an environment that supports my mission.
I stand firm in my vision, unshaken by doubt.
I build a foundation that is strong, sacred, and sustainable.
I am both the spark and the vessel.
I am both the creator and the receiver.
I trust in divine timing, I trust in divine flow,
And I allow inspiration to take form through me in miraculous ways.
✨ I lead. I create. I receive. I thrive. ✨
🔥 And so it is. 🔥
