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How can I Set Limits in Personal Relationships?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Setting limits in personal relationships can be hard work. Especially if you have acted in ways prior that did not respect your own limits, enforcing new limits may be particularly challenging. If you are acting differently than you would normally do, this can be stressful, guilt-producing or lonely. However, continuing not to respect your own needs is also uncomfortable and stressful. Thus setting boundaries can result ultimately in better personal relationships.

First and foremost, you must decide what your limits really are, and question how reasonable these limits are. You have to delve into your own core truths and decide which limits are the most important, and which ones are tired out and really don’t belong to you.

Couples should come to an understanding of whether they can use smartphones while out on a date.
Couples should come to an understanding of whether they can use smartphones while out on a date.

This can take some serious personal scrutiny on your part, but it is better to really investigate what limits are most important. Once you decide what limits are important, then you can hand a set of rules to someone else with whom you have a relationship. Knowing where you stand allows you to clearly state limits, without anger or aggression.

For example, you might really hate to be tickled. Maybe this seems in someway a violation of your being, or it makes you feel powerless. Screaming, “Don’t tickle me,” is not really setting limits. Instead, understanding how this behavior by a boyfriend or girlfriend makes you feel allows you to make an “I” statement, such as the following. “I really dislike being tickled. It makes me feel worried (powerless, out of control). In the future, I will leave the room (house, apartment), if you tickle me.”

Talk therapy can boost self-esteem and allow a person to set limits on relationships.
Talk therapy can boost self-esteem and allow a person to set limits on relationships.

By making an “I” statement, you clearly are setting boundaries, which are not likely to be perceived as an attack on the other person. The next job is to enforce the limit. You can’t make another person respect your limits, but you can communicate through your actions. If the person continues to tickle and you do nothing, you are not really setting limits.

Couples need to agree whether showing affection in public is something they both are OK with.
Couples need to agree whether showing affection in public is something they both are OK with.

If a person tries to tickle you again, your response is to remind the person of the limit, and then perhaps walk away from the situation. Once limits are set, those who choose not to respect them definitely do not have your interests at heart. A reminder or two may be warranted, but indefinitely allowing someone to ignore your limits is really only creating self-harm.

Setting boundaries may be a challenging but necessary step in a relationship.
Setting boundaries may be a challenging but necessary step in a relationship.

Setting boundaries is often challenging because we don’t like to say no to people. We want people to like us, and we fear what will happen if we say no or ask someone not to expect something from us. Remember that once you have clearly gone about establishing limits in relationships, people can only violate them with your permission.

Setting limits involves self-assertion, and especially the assertion that you matter. A person who does not like him or herself will find establishing limits very challenging. Learning to like one’s self is not the work of one day. Often talk therapy can be essential in gathering the self-esteem that will allow one to practice setting limits.

Setting boundaries can ultimately result in better personal relationships.
Setting boundaries can ultimately result in better personal relationships.

Further, in order for you to be successful at setting limits, you must also respect the limits set by others. Coming to agreements on setting limits and honoring each other’s limits can enhance a relationship. Bringing up problem areas in a non-aggressive and non-accusatory manner can open a personal relationship up to the possibility of greater intimacy.

Trusted friends can be a great resource for discussing how to best work through a difficult relationship.
Trusted friends can be a great resource for discussing how to best work through a difficult relationship.

Persistent disrespect of clearly defined limits suggests callous disregard for your feelings. Reinforce limits by reminding, leaving, or minimizing contact with those who cannot accept your limits. Establishing newer personal relationships with those who can respect your limits may increase your self-esteem and prove more satisfying in the long run.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon175816

well i totally agree with the author. I never tell anything when people tease me. I wonder what they'll think if i comment, when i myself know that they are joking. But it's high time i realize I'm being teased because they feel i don't have a problem with them teasing me. It's high time i told them this, but how? I don't want to sound rude, just want to set some limits.

subway11

Crispety- I agree with the writer that when we have problems setting limits in personal relationships is really due to lack of self-esteem.

We don't value ourselves enough and value the other party more because we want to please them at the expense of our needs. What we don't we realize is that the other party does not respect us and eventually we will tend to grow resentful because the limits are not set properly.

We all know the parent that spoils the child, that later grows up to be very self- centered.

The parent grows resentful of the demands of his or her offspring and wonders why they are not more thoughtful in their behavior. The old saying is true that we teach people how to treat us. These are the consequences of not setting limits in a relationship.

Crispety

I totally agree with you. Setting limits in the classroom works the same way.

The children in the classroom understand what behavior is desired and what consequences will be met when the desired behavior is not followed.

Having a set of written rules near the chalkboard allows the children to know what is expected of them.

For example, a teacher should explain that talking out of turn is a problem and may result in a reduction of recess by five minutes.

Many teachers use the three strike rule in order to help the children understand the consequences. The three strike rule gives the child a chance by offering consecutive warnings.

At the third warning, the punishment is offered. If this is done consistently, children will understand the limits in the classroom.

comfyshoes

When setting limits for children, it is important that you are setting limits fairly.

The best way to do this is by outlining the expectation upfront. When children know what to expect they tend to understand the limits better.

Setting limits for children requires consistency and communication. For example, before going into a store you explain to the child that you will not be purchasing anything for them.

Also, explain that if the behavior is not adhered to that there will be consequences. Explain what the exact consequences will be and stick to the punishment if the child does not listen to you.

After a few times, the child will understand. This is one example of how parenting setting limits can work.

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