New Beginnings - New Boundaries
- Lisa Stanley
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Today is both the first day of spring on our side of the world and UN International Day of Happiness. I hope your day put a spring in your step and happiness in your stride.
For me, thinking about new beginnings has reminded me that providing healthy boundaries makes me a better person, a better care partner, and overall a happier person. Boundaries are not selfish, they set up clear expectations and allow a person to think their own thoughts, breathe, and be mindful of how precious moments are shared each and every day.
Creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration for boundaries, can lead you to the path of personal happiness. ~Nancy B. Urbach
How will you start this season? What boundaries are important to you? Which new beginning will make all the difference on your journey to a happier you?
I think back to my childhood when time was limitless. How did I spend my days? Outside exploring.... singing to tadpoles swirling around a pond... following the path of an ant as it carried it's food on it's back... feeling the tickle of a daddy long legs on my arm... floating in water... climbing trees... and finding little nature nooks where I could just be.
As adults it's not enough to just remember those special times of being in nature. We need to intentionally schedule the time to 'just be.' Lisa Stanley
Here are some tips for finding a bit of time in nature:
Leave your phone at home, or at least turn it off.
Go outside.
Walk to where there is nature, it might be your garden, a tree in a park, or maybe you are fortunate enough to live near a forest or water.
Walk slowly, stopping to smell, see, listen to and touch your surroundings (for at least 5 minutes a stop). Notice what you notice.
Find a very healthy tree, coniferous is best, ask the tree if you can touch it. Hug it. Connect with it. Ask the tree if it has wisdom to share with you. Listen. It's okay if it isn't talking.
Adaptive version for people who may not be able to go outside:
Put your phone somewhere out of sight and out of reach, or at least turn it off.
Find a peaceful place to be within your home preferably near non-toxic houseplants.
YES, you need at least one houseplant!
Follow all steps above with your houseplant!
I asked Erik to draw a picture of me in my happy place! There's me!
When somewhere Is where I want to be I put down my phone, hike up my pants, and move towards the goal. Sometimes that goal is just being far away from all of life's distractions.
That's why the boundaries are so very important.
If you enjoyed these tips for a simple Forest Therapy session, and you would like to learn more, feel free to contact me for a free consultation through my website journeysunlimited.ca.
If you would like to learn more about how technology affects our happiness read this year's World Happiness Report.
Leave a comment about how you plan to be intentional about boundaries and being intentional at creating time to 'just be'.
I like to look at the colours of stones in puddles on our gravel driveway! They're just as colourful there as a trip to the beach. It's a good time to clear my mind. I'm sure the neighbors wonder why I walk with my head down so often.