Self Confidence and Boundaries in Your Art Business

Boundaries are essentially where one thing begins and another ends. They differentiate self from others and tell others how they are allowed to interact with us. Boundaries are something that you have to protect and uphold.⁠
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Boundaries can be a really tough thing for people to determine and uphold. Depending on how you were raised and your life experiences you may have a really hard time with boundaries. You may feel that you shouldn't have boundaries with loved ones. You may lack confidence in yourself and therefore have a hard time setting boundaries.⁠
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You might be wondering what this has to do with your art business. It has EVERYTHING to do with your art business. If you lack confidence you are probably not setting boundaries around things like your time and prices. You may find yourself saying "yes" to things that you don't feel you should say "yes" to. This can lead to burnout, resentment, and frustration.⁠
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When we feel confident about ourselves, our work, our prices, etc. we are confident to express and uphold our boundaries. When we uphold our boundaries we gain confidence in ourselves.⁠
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So which comes first, confidence or boundaries? ⁠
You've probably heard the saying "fake it 'til you make it." This is one of those areas where that notion could be helpful. Work on clarifying your boundaries for yourself and then practice expressing and upholding them. ⁠
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A word of caution, when we start upholding our boundaries people can get upset by it. Remember, refusal to respect your boundary is a refusal to respect you. Your boundary comes from your own self-confidence and self-respect, not from the way people respond to your boundaries.⁠
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What boundary will you work on upholding this week?⁠
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