Book Review: Making Space

*I received this book as an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I don't think I could've clicked the request button any faster than I did for this book.  Setting boundaries has become a pretty big area of my life that I've chosen to really grow in (hi, I'm a Type Two on the enneagram) so Making Space was absolutely perfect for the current season I'm in.

This book had a solid flow to it and I liked how Hardy broke up the sections into different areas of your life where you can apply boundaries (work, relationships, etc).  The last chapter threw me for a loop because I didn't fully see the connection between boundaries and fighting for change, but her words were impactful nonetheless.

I wound up making an album on my phone to organize my highlighted screenshots I took while reading.  Below are some of my favorite nuggets of advice that stood out to me:

* "...what has worked for us may not work for someone else; our answer might not be their answer."

* "Those yeses of our are valuable because they're a gift of our resources to another.  Don't scatter them around like confetti."

* "...you deserve your own kindness, even when you've messed up."

There were many times where I felt like Hardy was calling me out, but I needed it and I appreciated it.  There's a particular section when she's discussing how others might react to your boundaries - 

"Newly found boundaries often highlight the people in our lives who prospered from our having none.  The resistance can be symptomatic of their self-interest.  Their reaction says little about our boundaries but quite a lot about their character and their lofty expectations of us, not to mention what they stand to lose when we get our boundaries into shape."

My jaw dropped.  You see, since I've started to be more intentional with setting boundaries, I've had people react negatively; I've had to tell myself that their reaction was a reflection of them and not me; I've had to remind myself that boundaries are okay and they are necessary.  Making Space only further drilled this message into my brain.  

Another action I took that was inspired by the book was shutting off all my phone notifications.  Not only has it reduced my screen time significantly, but I have noticed a decrease in my anxiety as well!  I feel more in control and it's pretty amazing. 

I would highly recommend this book to my fellow Type Twos and anyone who is curious about or wants to grow in the topic of boundaries.  Overall, I'm giving Making Space 5 leaves!

Making Space was released January 5, 2021.  It is available to purchase through major retailers, or my personal favorite book distributor, Bookshop.  Buy through Bookshop, support local bookstores!