Navigating Unwanted Changes: Embracing Boundaries and Self-Respect

Change has a way of sneaking up on us. Sometimes it’s planned — other times, it’s as if life flips without asking for permission.

A few months ago, I had no idea that the words I’d written for a blog draft would end up becoming my reality. Within weeks, I went from working in a job I loved, to taking FMLA, to making the hard choice to resign. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to protect my mental health and peace.

Shifting Seasons

That decision left me in a season of reimagining. I’ve poured more into my private practice, and in many ways, I’m circling back to why I started: helping people — especially women, though now I proudly say people empowerment. Because every one of us deserves freedom from the things that hold us back.

This feels like my own “breaking free” moment. I’ve talked about blogging for years, but fear and vulnerability kept me from sharing consistently. Now, I’m writing scared, trusting God, and figuring out entrepreneurship one step at a time.

When Change Feels Like Tug-of-War

Change is constant — but some changes hit harder because they’re out of our control. It can feel like a tug-of-war against solid cement. No matter how hard you pull, it doesn’t budge. Accepting that reality is hard, especially when the change comes from other people’s actions or treatment of us.

The Serenity Prayer captures it perfectly:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

One of life’s hardest lessons is realizing we can’t control how others act — even when we’ve shown them our best. As someone who naturally puts others first, it’s a struggle when that energy isn’t reciprocated. The line between compassion and feeling used can get blurry.

Boundaries: The Bridge Between Compassion and Self-Respect

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we allow others to treat us. That’s where boundaries come in.

5 Steps to Establish Healthy Boundaries:

1. Self-Reflection – Know your needs, values, and what behavior is acceptable to you.
2. Communicate Clearly – Share your boundaries openly and without apology.
3. Learn to Say No – Protect your peace when a situation crosses the line.
4. Prioritize Self-Care – Anchor your worth in practices that strengthen you.
5. Evaluate Relationships – Keep the ones that honor your values and let go of those that don’t.

Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re riverbanks — guiding the flow of your life so it stays healthy, steady, and life-giving.

Sometimes, change doesn’t wait for permission. It comes uninvited, flips your plans upside down, and forces you to confront what’s within your control and what isn’t. In those moments, you get to choose — will I fight the cement, or will I step back and build the life I want with the tools I do have?

For me, this season is about choosing courage, embracing vulnerability, and letting my “becoming” unfold — one honest blog post at a time.

And if you’re in a season where boundaries feel heavy or hard, my guided journal Boundaries Without Guilt may help. It’s a 30-day journey to set boundaries with confidence, release guilt, and protect your peace.

Boundaries Without Guilt: A 30-Day Guided Journal for Women Who Are Done Shrinking