The podcast discusses the issue of feeling guilty after setting boundaries and the importance of overcoming this guilt for establishing healthy boundaries. It explores the consequences of disordered boundaries and introduces the new boundary boss workbook. The struggle of setting boundaries for highly sensitive individuals is explored, along with the experience of guilt and fear that comes with it. The importance of being fluent in the language of boundaries and not feeling guilty about prioritizing our own feelings is also discussed.
Setting boundaries is important for self-protection and maintaining healthy relationships.
Guilt after setting boundaries may stem from fear or anxiety, but it's crucial to prioritize self-care.
Deep dives
Understanding Boundaries and Boundary Guilt
In this episode, the host discusses the importance of boundaries and acknowledges that many listeners struggle with post-boundary setting guilt. Boundaries are defined as personal rules of engagement that communicate what is acceptable and unacceptable to us. Disordered boundaries can result in allowing others to mistreat us or being overly rigid. The episode emphasizes the need to communicate boundary requests effectively. The host encourages listeners to examine their feelings of guilt and fear associated with setting boundaries, particularly if they identify as highly sensitive or empathetic individuals. The importance of prioritizing self-care and maintaining a healthy relationship with oneself is highlighted, noting that self-abandonment does not lead to healthy relationships.
Exploring the Source of Post-Boundary Setting Guilt
The episode delves into the reasons why people often experience guilt after setting boundaries. It suggests that guilt may not be the appropriate emotion in such situations and proposes that fear or anxiety might underlie the guilt. Highly sensitive individuals and empaths, who deeply feel others' emotions, may find it terrifying to disappoint others by setting boundaries. The episode encourages listeners to question whether the guilt stems from a belief that setting boundaries is selfish or wrong. It also emphasizes the importance of clarifying intentions behind boundary setting and recognizing that prioritizing personal well-being is not selfish but necessary for maintaining healthy relationships.
Overcoming Boundary Guilt and Building Healthy Boundaries
To combat post-boundary setting guilt, the episode suggests several strategies. Firstly, it advises reconnecting with one's intentions for setting boundaries, ensuring they come from a place of self-protection and relationship preservation rather than being mean-spirited. The episode recognizes that guilt can be a default emotion for many and highlights the need to distinguish between appropriate guilt and excessive guilt related to boundary setting. Overgiving and being a high-functioning codependent may contribute to feeling guilty when setting limits. However, the episode reassures listeners that setting boundaries is not selfish and urges them to reflect on their struggles with post-boundary setting guilt in order to overcome it.
When you say “no” to someone, do you often feel immense guilt afterward?
Or do you second-guess your boundaries after setting them?
I have seen a lot of my therapy clients sacrifice their boundaries due to guilt. But letting guilt sabotage our efforts to have healthy boundaries is a one-way ticket to Bitter Town.
Boundaries are meant to protect ourselves and our relationships. They deepen our connections. Yet, many of us still feel guilty for having and enforcing boundaries.
This episode is about deepening our understanding of post-boundary setting guilt. I talk about what you can do to combat it, how to tell if it is actually guilt you are feeling, and when feeling guilty may be appropriate.
Read the show notes for today's episode at http://terricole.com/556
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