Utilizing Mindfulness in Everyday Life: Setting Boundaries and Facilitating Productive Conversations.
March 12th, 2025
Written by: Lily Watson
Edited by: Sophie Silverstein
If you’re anything like me- confrontation isn’t your strong suit. In my case, I tend to avoid it at all costs. While using avoidance as a coping mechanism might feel good temporarily, I have found that the relief doesn’t last long. Unfortunately, my fear of confrontation began affecting my everyday life and negatively impacting my relationships with the people I love. In order to combat this issue, I began utilizing a mindful approach to enter a world of open communication and understanding. The days of avoidance are far behind me- and they can be for you too! Here are some helpful tips and tricks to stop fearing confrontation and, rather, welcoming it into your life.
Step 1: Ask yourself the important questions.
This step can be interpreted in a couple of different ways- for me, I like to set my intention and ask myself what I hope to gain from this experience. These intentions can range anywhere from eliminating harmful behaviors in a friendship to creating an open dialogue with your loved ones. In doing this step, you are outlining your goal and allowing yourself to work backward to find the best way to achieve it.
Step 2: Consider your communication strategies.
This is a crucial step in setting boundaries, expressing yourself, and getting your desired outcome. It is essential to plan out some key points and objectives for your conversation. For some, this can be a bullet list to reference, while for others, this just means talking your thoughts through with a friend. Preparation is a key factor in ensuring you articulate yourself in a productive, honest, and effective manner. Additionally, it eliminates an element of anxiety around how the conversation will look.
Step 3: Listen to Understand.
This is a step that should not be taken lightly, as listening to understand is a key example of how listening and learning can positively impact your life, and in turn, your relationships. Rather than speaking at someone, the value of hearing out a different point of view can provide you with context that can lead to understanding, and untimely, your desired outcome. It is important to acknowledge that while you might be upset or frustrated with someone, you still care about them. After all, that is why you decided to have the conversation in the first place. At the end of the day- listening to someone's point of view is just as important as them listening to you.
Confrontation and setting boundaries can be hard at first, but the benefits of doing so are great. With practice and a mindful approach- you will become a master communicator in no time. Take a deep breath, trust yourself, and embrace any conversation that comes your way!
