Breaking Boundaries

Boundaries are a large part of our society. In many ways, they allow us to specify our limits and create healthy lives for ourselves.

Boundaries are also psychological and appear differently for different people. They create a line between people and relationships, but the line is unclear because there is little agreement about where the line ought to lie. In this way, some boundaries act as restrictions that allow people to remain at a distance from one another.

The boundaries that act as a separation and a limiting agent between people can be found in social boundaries or conversation boundaries. In this respect, people’s comfort zones become the boundaries. Although comfort zones are important to acknowledge and understand, they also can work against personal growth. Some examples of such boundaries are talks about sex and mental health. Society has built up boundaries that create a space in which these topics are hardly addressed because it would be inappropriate to do so.

Although there are very strict social boundaries regarding sex, society has seen what the lack of conversation has resulted in—such as teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Because these are important social issues, it is now socially acceptable to speak openly about these topics. In fact, schools now offer health classes that inform students about the risks of sex.

Although this may seem like a step in the right direction, breaking these boundaries is only the first step. In order to create a healthier world for future generations, we need to break the boundaries around talking about sex and create a healthy space to begin these important conversations.

Just as the current boundaries around sex are detrimental to our society, so are the boundaries we’ve set around mental health. Today, people don’t discuss mental health for fear of making others uncomfortable or passing judgment. Mental health, however, is an issue that will only improve for an individual through the support of those around them. In order for these conversations to happen, boundaries need to be broken and people need to feel safe discussing this topic.

Personal boundaries are very important for each individual in that they allow a person to know themselves and choose the way they interact with others. Some social boundaries, on the other hand, have created a space where conversation is limited and people are not permitted to learn about some important things. Talking about these uncomfortable topics, therefore, should not be restricted just for the purpose of other people’s comfort.

Society builds unnecessary boundaries which can lead to harmful incidents and create an uneducated and unsafe environment for future generations. It is only through breaking these boundaries and having conversations about sex and mental illness that we will not only help society’s children to be more prepared, but will also help to build a brighter future.

By // Terra Toner

To learn more about Boundaries and how to help your child by the ages create them add the Boundaries issue to your MASK Library

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