Good Fences – Managing Fence Jumpers

One thing you can be certain of on your journey to better boundary setting…fence jumpers! Some people in your life will decide (and it is a decision) that your boundaries are not real and are not meant for them. Many of these people do not have bad intentions, they are just not yet accustomed to […]

Permission Slip: Get Angry!

This permission slip will bother some of you. We’ve all been given the message that it’s not okay to get angry and that we have to keep that shit under control. And there are definitely people who should keep their anger in check…but those are typically people who have a history of getting angry and […]

Good Fences – Setting Boundaries

So it’s all fine a good to talk about boundaries in the abstract, but at last we have arrived at an action step…Setting Boundaries. As a reminder, setting boundaries is an essential part of maintaining healthy relationships and protecting your own mental health. Without boundaries, we will find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and resentful. Let’s […]

Good Fences – Types of Boundaries and Common Misconceptions

Last week I kicked off this discussion of boundaries with an introduction and explained why I thought it is an important topic. Understanding and setting boundaries is an important part of maintaining healthy relationships and fostering personal growth. Boundaries act as guideposts that help us define our limits, protect our well-being, and honor our individuality. […]

Permission Slip: Do

What happens after dreaming??? If nothing, then maybe the dream wasn’t for you. But if after you dream, you get excited to take the next step, then by all means, give yourself permission to DO something! Anything. Take the next step. Take a leap of faith. Call on advisors. Build a plan. Map out a […]

Good Fences – An Introduction to Boundaries

Me: Have you set any boundaries in this situation? Client: <long pause> NoMe: Do you know what your boundaries are in this instance? <silence> What would be a real dealbreaker in terms of the other person’s behavior? Client: I really don’t know. <even longer pause> And even if I did, I don’t know how I […]

Permission Slip: Set Boundaries

Along the way, I have had to learn (often the hard way) that one of the most vital lessons we must learn is the art of setting boundaries. Setting boundaries is an act of self-care and self-respect that allows us to protect our well-being, maintain healthy relationships, and prevent others from taking advantage of our […]

Change – Step 4

Support I’m currently watching the house on the other side of the street get a massive facelift. As they work on it, I keep thinking “It looks like a new house!” The longer I stare (with a cup of tea from my front porch) the more I realize that it isn’t just a facelift. They […]

Stressed Out?

Stress can have a rough impact on both relationships and performance. When we are experiencing stress, it affects our ability to communicate effectively, make decisions, and manage emotions. This can lead to rocky relationships with the people we love the most and our work colleagues. It can definitely impact our ability to be productive. In […]

Change – Step 3

Self-Compassion This is our third week talking about change and it’s inevitability in our lives. We discussed Step 1 Acceptance and Step 2 Mindset in previous weeks. This week I want to talk about the role of compassion in a season of change and upheaval. Change often brings uncertainty, fear, and doubt. In moments like […]