Why Boundaries Matter: It's Time We Put the Focus on Our Own Lives

The clothing you wear, the way you style your hair, the jewelry you put on, and the shoes you choose – they’re all part of your personal expression, whether you’re an adult or a kid. Everyone has their own sense of style and should be allowed to wear whatever makes them feel good. But when someone who isn’t related to you tells you how to dress or what you should or shouldn’t wear, it can feel like an invasion of your space and an imposition of their authority.

Being told what to do or how to look by someone who isn’t part of your family can create serious boundaries between the two of you. Not only does it make the other person feel more powerful over you, but it can also make the “advice” giver lose respect for you and the boundary that should exist between them and you. While it’s natural for people to want to give advice and share their opinion, telling someone else how to dress or what they should wear goes outside of what’s appropriate.

It may seem like a small thing in the moment, but someone telling you how to dress can be a sign of deeper emotional issues and personal insecurities. It’s easy to feel inferior or flawed when someone else starts giving you suggestions or opinions on how you should present yourself. This is especially true if the “advice” comes from someone you look up to or admire. You may think that you need to change yourself to live up to their standards, when this is actually not the case at all.

It’s important to take a step back and remind yourself that it’s your body, not someone else’s, and you are the only one who has the right to decide what you’re going to wear. It doesn’t matter how much someone else loves you or wants to help you — no one else has the right to tell you what to wear. It might be hard to stand up for yourself and say no to their suggestions, but it’s essential for setting healthy boundaries and establishing the respect that you deserve.

The same goes for any advice we receive from others – if it isn’t advice that we feel is beneficial to us, then it’s important to have the courage to shut it down and make sure that our voice is heard. When we stand up for ourselves and don’t let other people run our lives, it can give us an immense feeling of empowerment that can help us to reach our goals. And it can certainly help us to create healthier relationships with the people around us, because when we show that we understand our own self-worth, they will follow suit and start treating us with the respect and consideration that we deserve.

Taking control of your life is one of the most important things a person can do — and being able to decide what you’re going to wear and how you’re going to present yourself is an extension of that. Whether you’re an adult or a kid, never let someone else dictate how you dress. Stand up for yourself and be proud of who you are.