Boundaries
Setting Boundaries Without Guilt: You Are Worth It
Welcome back to Coffee and Tea with CarrieVee! I’m your host, CarrieVee—your biggest fan and the one who’ll believe in you until you believe in yourself (and even then, I’ll still believe in you). Today’s episode dives deep into a topic that hits close to home for so many of us: boundaries.
And yes, our honorary guest Princess joined in for this chat—because apparently, if I’m talking, she must be on my lap. Jealous pup energy, always.
Boundaries Aren’t Selfish. They’re Sacred.
This episode is all about learning to set boundaries—without apology, without guilt, and with fierce self-love. For years, I thought people with boundaries were mean or cold. But the truth? They were whole. They were people who knew their worth and prioritized their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. That was a wake-up call for me.
I’m a recovering people pleaser. For a long time, I said yes to everyone except myself. Maybe you’ve been there too—overcommitted, exhausted, sacrificing your own needs to keep others happy.
But here’s the truth:
If you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not taking care of anyone.
Boundaries aren't about pushing people away; they’re about creating space for you to thrive—and when you thrive, you show up better for everyone around you.
📖 Want to go deeper?
There’s an entire chapter on boundary setting in my book, The Radical Empowerment Method. It includes step-by-step guidance and journal prompts to help you define and protect your non-negotiables. You can jump right to that chapter—no need to read in order!
Real Talk: What Boundaries Look Like
One of my non-negotiables? Sleep. I don’t take calls, go to movies, or accept meetings that begin after 8 PM. Why? Because I wake up at 4:30 or 5 AM, and I need that rest to show up energized and present. It may not be popular, but it’s essential. When I break that boundary, I end up drained and depleted—and that’s not how I want to live anymore.
Not everyone will like your boundaries. And that’s okay. Let them go. The people who respect your boundaries are your people. The rest? They were never meant to stay.
How to Start Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries starts with clarity. Here's what I did:
Write your top 10 non-negotiable items—things you will no longer compromise on for your mental, physical, or spiritual health.
Revisit and rewrite that list regularly. Your needs will evolve, and so should your boundaries.
Start with just one boundary. Don’t try to overhaul your life overnight. One clear, committed step is powerful.
Give yourself grace. You’ll stumble. You’ll fall. That’s okay. Get back up and reaffirm your worth.
Maintaining Boundaries Takes Practice
It’s not just about setting boundaries—it’s about keeping them. That takes self-awareness, reflection, and the belief that you are worthy of protecting your peace. When you start to compromise a boundary, pause and ask: Why? Are you trying to please someone else? Are you overcommitted? Did you procrastinate?
Boundaries help us uncover the deeper patterns in our lives—and that’s where transformation begins.
