In 2013, I crossed my own boundary. The result was a severe burnout and a subsequent depression that lasted for about 18 months. After my healing, I decided that jobs are among my new boundaries in life. I do not consider my (almost daily) writing as working, even despite its similarities.
The Google AI Overview is quite clear:
Crossing your own boundaries means prioritizing others’ needs and desires over your own, often leading to feelings of discomfort, resentment, or even burnout. It involves saying “yes” when you want to say “no,” or engaging in behaviors that violate your own comfort or values. Recognizing when you’re doing this and understanding the reasons behind it is crucial for building and maintaining healthy boundaries and protecting your well-being.
I had (good) intentions for doing what I did. I assumed I was able to control my actions and its consequences. With the knowledge of hindsight, I was terribly wrong. Nevertheless, I emerged as a phoenix from my burnout. My body, mind & soul had been out of balance for many years.
Crossing your own boundaries is dangerous because we will (usually) underestimate its consequences. Nevertheless, I cannot and will not advise against it, though. Clearly, your good intentions are (probably) much more important than an alleged danger.
In my view, pushing your own boundaries is very different from crossing your own boundaries:
Pushing boundaries and crossing boundaries are distinct actions with different implications. Pushing boundaries involves testing the limits of what’s acceptable, often to see how far one can go without causing harm or breaking rules. Crossing boundaries, on the other hand, is a violation of those limits, causing discomfort, hurt, or even damage to a relationship or situation.
Source: Google AI Overview
Is it possible to confuse pushing and crossing boundaries ?? I doubt that. It would be like confusing absolute and relative.
A very interesting quote on the related topics of behaviour, change, motivation, and pain:
“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.”
A quote by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend (eg, website of both)
Boundaries (1982) by Jon Anderson
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Wiki-album+song
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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