Support

A concept discussed in the therapy world quite frequently is the idea of social support. Social support can be incredibly valuable and healing regarding mental health and wellness. Having friends and peers to share experiences and be vulnerable with can provide much needed validation, understanding and increased closeness. It allows for deeper conversations and collaboration with important people in our worlds. Social support has been shown to improve mental health and wellness in many ways.

While social support is incredibly valuable, a concept that I believe goes hand in hand with support is having appropriate boundaries. When does support cross over into caregiving that becomes dependent rather than supportive? This dynamic is something that differs for everyone and is worth spending some time questioning your own boundaries regarding supporting others. When does supporting others take away from supporting yourself? When does it contribute to a meaningful relationship? And do you know the difference in your own life?

Learning to know your own emotional boundaries with supporting others can help you differentiate between knowing when you are supporting your relationships and when you are taking away from your own wellbeing. Emotional boundaries can sound like:

Do I have the energy to have this conversation right now?

Is this person asking me to do something that I do not agree with or that betrays my commitments to myself?

Does this conversation feel good to me? And if no, why not?

Can I be supportive right now?

Am I in need of support myself? Is there reciprocity within this relationship?

Is this support one-sided?

Do I also receive what I need out of this relationship and communicate those needs clearly while respecting the others boundaries?

One of the most powerful things in healing is being heard, validated and witnessed by others. I truly believe in this part of the work. The strength that lies in community is immense. Having boundaries that support both yourself and your relationships with others creates harmony in the balancing act that is support. Embrace the give and take. It is okay to say that you do not have the energy to be able to fully support someone else and you need to revisit a conversation when you can provide it with attention that serves both yourself and your relationship. Explore what this means to you throughout the week and drop a comment down below if this is a topic you can connect with. I love to hear from you all. Happy Sunday! I hope a beautiful week awaits ahead of you.