Healthy Boundaries & Refusal Skills

Establishing healthy personal boundaries is key to communicating with others. Personal boundaries are the physical and emotional limits that we set for ourselves. They show others that we have respect for ourselves, and for others, and that we will not give in to peer pressure.

Below are a few examples of personal boundaries that many of us have:

1. Refusing to physically harm another person (physical boundary)
2. Refusing to gossip about another person (emotional boundary)
3. Refusing to bully another student (emotional boundary)
4. Refusing to let another person touch you in a way that you do not like (physical boundary)

We know that it can be hard at times, and seem scary, but it’s important to remember that you are in control of your actions. You are allowed to refuse to participate in an action that crosses your personal boundaries. You are also allowed to let others know when they are crossing the line, and violating your personal boundaries.