"What is becoming of this country?"  How many times have you heard this question lately?  Most of us have heard it expressed in this way or at least something similar.  It is understandable given the turmoil of our politics and society in general.  Those of us of an older generation look around and wonder just what is happening.  The world we grew up in and became comfortable with has vanished before our eyes.  The new world is one of excitement and bewilderment all at the same time.  

Now, deep into the 21st Century, we have access to instant communication.  Everyone has an opinion; we all know those opinions thanks to the animal we call "Social Media!"  Things that once were science fiction are now facts and everyday occurrences.  We have exceeded the marvels of such television shows as "Star Trek."  The pace of technological progress is mind-numbing.  And, if we're not careful, overwhelming.  One of the casualties to this modern technology has been that of Boundaries.

Boundaries form the framework of our lives.  All of us have boundaries.  Some good.  Some bad.  Most are vague and we may not even be aware of them.  Boundaries are important to our emotional and spiritual health because it protects us from harm from others or even ourselves.  It is important for us to first understand what Boundaries are before we come to an understanding of what we would like our boundaries to be.  

There is a lot of confusion about Boundaries.  Some, because of their background, have reservations about setting boundaries.  For instance, they may feel guilty about saying no to someone who has asked them to do something and, unwilling to displease them, they agree to it.  The result of this is disappointment and, often, unhappiness.  When we or someone else violates our Boundaries, we lose part of ourselves.  Instead of seeking to settle our differences in a healthy, constructive way through adherence to our Boundaries as well as others, we find ourselves losing our way in just trying to find what it is that we want,  

Healthy Boundaries are vital to a good and productive life.  They help us remain true to ourselves as we seek to fulfill our destinies.  Abraham Maslow called this self-actualization.  Whether or not we ever achieve self-actualization is debatable, but someone who has healthy Boundaries and adheres to those values will undoubtedly come close.

Matters of the Heart will begin a discussion of Boundaries this Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM CDT.  We will explore just what is meant by Boundaries, how we establish them, how to deal with those who refuse to accept our Boundaries, and many other topics related to the subject.  

If you are interested, please go to the Matters of the Heart group page on Facebook and indicate your interest.  This will be less of a lecture than a discussion between those who may be seeking to establish healthier boundaries or change their current Boundaries into something that will help them achieve their full potential.