When you think of the word boundaries, what words come to mind? If you think back on that time, perhaps someone was crossing an unspoken boundary of yours without your consent, and that felt unsafe. Boundaries exist to protect us and let us know what to expect and to stay in control of your situation.
What makes someone popular? What is that famous instagram star doing? What shows are everyone watching on Netflix? These may be questions that you or your friends ask yourselves, because community, peers, and popularity tend to be very important during this time of your life! There is nothing wrong with this, but there can be risks if an unconscious drive such as FOMO fear of missing out , or fear of falling behind drive you to make decisions that are not healthy.
We encourage students to be aware of what is driving their decisions, and take an honest look at what the hierarchy of importance is in their lives. Is what your peers are saying, driving you to do things that you may not normally do? Is popular opinion affecting your physical or emotional well-being?
Friendships with peers is very important now, but each of us can make a change to who we allow to influence our lives. Everyone wants healthy relationships, whether it is in their family, friendships, romantic, or future employment, and etc.
The starting point to having healthy, thriving relationships in your life is often taking the time to get to know yourself first. Whether it is your personality type, ways that you connect with those that are safe in your life, or understanding the various facets that lead to whole person health, knowledge is power. It can be very valuable to take the time now to take courses, attend presentations, or do some self-learning to get to know yourself.
