Monday Values: Boundaries Are Brave

Perfection or peace? I had to choose.

Dear one—

I’m not great at saying no.
Especially when it comes to family or coworkers I see every single day. Holiday parties. Business meetings. Text threads that never die.

But I’ve learned this:
Boundaries don’t make me selfish. They keep me sane.

A few months ago, I was working seven days a week. I was burning out while trying to prove I could do it all. And I was modeling something to my kids that I never meant to teach them: that being constantly depleted was normal.

So I made a scary decision.

I dropped one of our weekly worship band practices. I chose to rehearse less for a service our congregation loves regardless of whether we practice four hours or ninety minutes.

It felt like sacrificing perfection.
But what I actually chose was peace.

Since then, I’ve been building systems. Trusting my team. Collaborating with volunteers. Saying yes to sustainability and no to glorified burnout.

Because in the nonprofit world—whether it’s church, education, adoption services, community clinics, or advocacy work—we often work 80 hours for 20 minutes of transformation. And while that transformation is real and holy, it can’t come at the cost of our lives.

✨ This week’s value: Boundaries Are Brave
Honor your capacity. Protect what matters.

Practice This Week:
Notice one place you’re overextending.
Name a boundary you need—aloud, on paper, or to someone else.
Practice saying no without apology.

With fierce tenderness,
—Sheila

P.S. If this reflection resonated with you, would you consider subscribing or forwarding it to a friend who’s learning to say no with grace? Good Company is growing through word-of-mouth, and your share makes a real difference.

When you set a boundary, not everyone will applaud. But the right people—the ones who love the real you—will adjust. And eventually, they might even thank you for modeling what healthy leadership looks like.