Thought: Being intentionally mindful about maintaining boundaries ensures they are respected. It reinforces your self-worth and needs. Remember that the human state operates by subconscious habit. If you don’t intentionally maintain these boundaries, old habits will take over before this healthy behaviour becomes a new habit. Action Step: Reflect on a boundary you set and consider any challenges you face in maintaining it. Develop a plan to uphold it daily so that it becomes a healthy habit. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Thought: Healthy relationships require mutual respect for boundaries and allow you [both] to feel safe and respected. Action Step: Have a conversation with a close friend or family member about your boundaries. Discuss how you can support each other’s limits. Don’t allow yourself to believe that addressing your personal boundaries will offend the other person. As long as you are respecting their boundaries too, mutual respect wins they day. Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Thought: Setting boundaries is a form of self-respect and self-respect comes from self-value. Value yourself enough to protect your time, energy, and emotions. Action Step: Reflect on a situation where you didn’t set a boundary and how it affected you. Consider your growing recognition of your self-value then think about how setting a boundary would have changed the outcome. Write your thoughts down. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Thought: Applying boundaries is an act of self-care. Clear boundaries communicate to others your limits and encourages them to respect your needs. When you don’t set clear boundaries, you increase the risk of intentionally or unintentionally, being taken advantage of. Action Step: Choose one boundary that you know you need to set. Practice articulating it clearly and kindly to yourself in a mirror. Then use it confidently with someone in your life today. Proverbs 25:17 "Seldom set foot in your neighbour’s house - too much of you, and they will hate you."

Thought: Know that your feelings and emotions, including the responsibility over them, is separate from those of others. You can decide each day how you want your emotional state to be, regardless how others make you feel, or how you feel when you wake up. Just because you feel it doesn’t mean you have to become it. Action Step: Be intentionally mindful of your reactions to others today and note any time you adopt someone else’s emotions. Practice separating your feelings from theirs and remind yourself of your emotional goals that you set this morning. Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."