Your Mindset Quiz Results!

Overview

You’re driven by a fear of rejection or negative consequences. You may worry that enforcing boundaries will result in clients or colleagues thinking less of you, or worse, jeopardize important relationships. This fear makes it difficult to set clear limits, as you constantly weigh the potential consequences of saying no. Learning how to set boundaries confidently, without fear of negative outcomes, will help you protect your well-being and professional effectiveness.

First

Importantly, continue exploring your results and strategies below with a level of empathy, self compassion and non-judgement - as much as you can muster. From that place, digest these reflections, take what’s suitable for you, and know that you’re not alone and we’re here to support you to THRIVE. We’ll help you explore and understand how you got here and why this mindset barrier has become so engrained.

We know this is you, at least for the most part. Of course there’s going to be exceptions to the rule and times when you’re not responding from underlying risk-averse urges, mindsets and early childhood templates. We hear you. It’s not all black and white, nor are you fixed in stone. We all have areas to work on. Especially if we’re interested in maintaining our career fulfilment and longevity, having nourishing and connected relationships in personal and professional settings, and seeing clients through to healthy, safer outcomes from your work together.

Breaking through the Risk-Averse mindset and mastering healthy boundaries can be difficult, especially for health and helping professionals who deeply care about their clients' well-being. This mindset often stems from the fear of letting others down or feeling guilty when prioritizing one's own needs. However, learning to balance compassion for others with self-compassion is crucial to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy, sustainable practice. Below are some tips and tools to help you overcome this boundary block and start to get more agency and control over your choices, and ultimately have a more rich and rewarding career.

Actionable Strategies to Unblock your Mindset Barrier and Create Healthier Boundaries!

Here are some initial actionable steps that you can implement right now to help reduce the Risk-Averse mindset in your personal and professional relationships:

⭐1. Talk to the Fear

Tip: Ok, we all know the movie InsideOut by now. It’s fab, we love it over here. Because it’s true. Internal Family Systems is a real, deal, evidence based modality. We have different parts inside of us, each with different purposes, roles, functions, emotional worlds, and the rest of it. Getting to know your different parts is KEY to knowing yourself better and in turn, responding to others and the world around you differently. So let’s get to know your fear. Fear is what’s driving this mindset barrier.

Tool: Self-compassion and curiosity practice - Next time you notice thoughts that tell you not to express or uphold a boundary for yourself, notice what the thought says. See if you can stay in your observer self, even for a moment at first. As you practice this, it will get easier to notice the thoughts. Fear thoughts might be saying, “Don’t tell them you’re busy, you might not get invited to the next thing and then you’ll have no colleague friends anymore, you’ll be all alone.” Also remember - your thoughts are not your reality - they are not real, they are just thoughts.

⭐2. Shift Your Mindset Around Boundaries

Tip: Remember that boundaries aren’t about rejecting others; they’re about preserving your well-being so you can continue providing effective support, show up fully and offer genuine connection.

Tool: Cognitive Reframing Practice – When you feel pulled into conceding a boundary, try your best to catch it and reframe your thinking: Healthy boundaries are a sign of self-respect and professional integrity.

⭐3. Prepare and Practice Your “No” or Neutral Script

Tip: Saying no can be hard for many, especially when we don’t know the outcome of how people will respond to it. This is particularly challenging for this mindset. Grounding and centering yourself before, during and after practicing saying your version of ‘no’ is key. Practice it in lower level stakes too, so you can get the feel for it, and notice what arises in your body when you do it. When you anticipate needing to say no, have a script ready.

Tool: Practice using clear and firm language, such as, “I’m unable to assist at this time, but I’m happy to help during our next session/meeting.” Rehearsing these lines will make you feel more confident when the time comes. Use various shades of ‘no’ on the communication spectrum - like, not yet, I’ll get back to you, perhaps later, let me think about it. Finding a more neutral response is a great way to get started. It doesn’t lock you into anything and can buy you time.

⭐4. Set Boundaries in Small Steps

Tip: If the idea of saying no feels daunting, start small. Begin by setting minor boundaries—such as limiting communication hours or taking breaks during the day, slowing responses to meeting requests, emails or screening calls. You don’t have to be readily available to everyone immediately. Gradually build your confidence and extend those boundaries to more challenging situations.

Tool: Use technology to assist. Turn off notifications, set alarms to time block, record your own quirky, genuine, warm response to out-of-office requirements. Using tools as a gatekeeper while you’re in training is a great way to get started in small, personalised ways.

⭐ 5. Communicate the Benefits of Boundaries

Tip: Frame your boundaries in a way that shows clients the positive impact on their experience. For example, “By respecting my hours and realistic limits, I’m able to give you my best attention during our sessions.” This helps clients and staff understand that boundaries are in place to serve them better.

Tool: Modelling boundaries for clients and staff is what being a high quality, ethical and self reflective practitioner and leader is all about. They look to you for leading the way and showing them a different way of doing things - even if they don’t realise it at first. Take your responsibility with humility and pride - you’ve got this.

⭐ 5. Seek Support & Accountability

Tip: Find a suitable mentor or peer who can help hold you accountable. Talk through situations where you’ve struggled to set boundaries, and get real feedback. Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone in your struggles can help you feel more empowered.

Tool: Practice mistakes and self-forgiveness - while you might be on your soapbox about the benefits of boundaries, you may be fumbling a bit in that area yourself. That’s ok. We’re all human. And we must practice accepting the fumbles of reality, getting things a little less than perfect sometimes (especially while we learn, unlearn and retrain).

Final Thoughts

Overcoming the Risk-Averse mindset requires a shift from fearing rejection, conflict or unknown negative consequences, to setting clear limits, responding (soothing) to the internal fears driving this mindset, and more gentle practice saying no. We can exposure therapy ourselves to move beyond this limiting mindset barrier and learn how to set boundaries confidently, while tending to the fear of negative outcomes, which will reduce over time with consistent practice and self-compassion. Remember, healthy boundaries are an act of care for yourself and others! They will actually HELP you get to where you want to go.

Where To From Here?

Book a Free Consultation: Would you like to explore personalised strategies and dive even deeper into mastering your mindset barriers? Book a FREE 15 minute consultation with our therapists today.

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Therapy / Supervision Cards: Grab your box set of The Connection Cards - The 52-Week Authentic Worker Reset to help provide you with a year’s supply of critical self reflection questions and action steps. By reflecting on the cards as another introspective tool, you will advance your self development and growth, and be LAUNCHING your way to healthier boundaries, more fulfilling and sustainable careers and more nourishing home relationships and life.

Share & Grow: Forward the QUIZ to someone in your life (personal or professional) who could also benefit from learning about their mindset barriers to better boundaries. If you’re also passionate about creating a stronger, healthier, more boundaried workforce, then we need more people to be actively creating more balanced choices and lives. It’s for our wellbeing AND our clients’ wellbeing. We are stronger together.

Celebrate The Wins: Get some wins under your belt and tell us about them! We are here to laugh, cry and support you along the way. Sharing the attempts and stumbles we make along the way is all part of the fun of growing, changing and doing things differently! Share them on our Facebook page or join us on TikTok.

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Accuracy, Transparency and Limitations: Our quiz results, while based on evidence based therapeutic practice, do not substitute for personalised medical or treatment advice. They do not serve as clinical diagnoses or treatment, but as insightful tools for general guidance to assist you to take first steps in understanding some of your hidden barriers better.