There are many types of people in the world, some of whom value you and others who may just absorb your good energy. These days, I've been talking with my husband and friends about some situations I've encountered at work. Respect, setting boundaries, and knowing my worth are aspects that help me every day at home and at work so I can have healthier relationships with the people I want to keep in my life.
First and foremost, I believe respect is always key to healthy relationships. There are some people I get on bad terms with, but I try never to disrespect them, especially not saying things I know might hurt them. It's difficult to walk that fine line between joking and hurting someone with a comment. When respect is lost in any relationship, disaffection and distrust toward others and oneself begin.
Another aspect I mentioned is setting boundaries. I also call them "personal policies," and they allow us to have more respect for others. In my business, I constantly interact with women of many different personalities. Unfortunately, I've had unpleasant experiences on occasion, all because I didn't set boundaries or "policies." For example, policies help us maintain order in repetitive processes that can lead to problems, and in my case, I always share them so I can follow them and maintain order and respect. Sometimes there are people who don't respect my work, time, and effort, and for that reason, I've tried to be more and more clear in these types of situations. In my personal life, it was very difficult for me when my sisters or husband set boundaries. Even hearing a "no" was the worst thing they could say, and I felt rejected and annoyed. Today I fully understand that boundaries make us feel more comfortable and at peace in our lives. They also provide us with security and protection as they help us avoid certain very unpleasant events and people.
I also tell them that knowing and recognizing one's worth helps us better present ourselves in different contexts. Speaking of interpersonal relationships, knowing our worth will give us the opportunity to interact with people who will recognize our place and not accept less. It's nice to be able to tell someone we love them and feel loved as well. On the other hand, if we talk about the work aspect, you can put a price on something, and people won't try to undervalue what you do; on the contrary, they will support and respect every minute of the time you take to complete each activity.
I understand that every person is important and special, but some forget that and want me to feel the same way they do. And as I mentioned earlier, my "non-negotiables" are to respect, set boundaries, and always acknowledge my worth because this way, it's harder for someone to make me feel insecure, uncomfortable, or not enough.
Every day is a new opportunity to apply something good and new to our lives, and it's always important to identify what will help us be happier. You too should identify your "non-negotiables" and see what kind of people are worth keeping.
I love you all very much, and I am always grateful to have you as a safe place for me to be myself.
With love,
Zueimy.