It’s been a while since I’ve felt this uncomfortable. I had an empty afternoon last week and saw Speak No Evil (trailer here), a horror/suspense film about a family who goes to visit another couple they met on vacation. And shockingly, things don’t go as expected. If you saw the “Dinner Party” episode of The Office where Jim and Pam go to Michael and Jan’s house for the most uncomfortable house party ever, and thought to yourself… “What if this was a 2-hour horror movie instead?” …that’s essentially the plot of Speak No Evil. This movie, based on a 2022 European film of the same name, goes even deeper with its commentary on relationships, masculinity, and parenting. However, what made me so uncomfortable about Speak No Evil was how it asked, “How many of our own boundaries are we willing to cross to keep the peace and not hurt somebody’s feelings?” As a self-proclaimed conflict-avoidant people pleaser, this movie hit close to home.
My upbringing in a household with both Episcopalian and Catholic influences left me with a tendency to overcommit and prioritize others’ needs over my own, leading to burnout and resentment. Over time, I’ve learned to establish and enforce boundaries for my own well-being. Many people-pleasers may relate to feeling overcommitted and struggling with burnout, but the solution isn’t a temporary escape or achievement. Instead, it requires a difficult conversation with oneself and the courage to set boundaries.
Boundaries are crucial in protecting against burnout and ensuring that our own needs are considered alongside others’. By saying no to obligations or guilt-driven commitments, we prioritize our mental health and establish boundaries that nurture our well-being. Remember, “no” is a complete sentence. The key to overcoming burnout lies in putting fewer things on our plate and developing boundaries to protect ourselves from ourselves. I challenge you to establish a boundary today for your own mental health and well-being. Let’s prioritize ourselves so we can better care for others. Share with me the boundary you set by replying to this email. -Steve ###The post Boundaries: the Cure for Burnout? first appeared on Nerd Fitness.
