Own Your Boundaries, Especially with Your Medical Care

I said something recently that made people’s eyes widen: “I have a good team.”

What I meant was: I’m surrounded by smart doctors and supportive people.

What others heard was: Oh no, is something seriously wrong?

Here’s the dirt.

• High,  I mean super high,  cholesterol.

• Osteoporosis.

• Clogged arteries.

Argh. Not exactly what you want to see on your chart.

But here’s the truth: my outsides don’t match my insides. From the outside, I look like someone who eats well, moves her body, and lives a vibrant life. On the inside, my numbers tell a different story.

This is where boundaries come in.

Owning your boundaries isn’t just about saying no to people or protecting your calendar. It’s also about saying yes to your health. About being brave enough to get the tests, face the data, ask for second opinions, and push back when the care plan doesn’t feel aligned.

As someone who has spent over 30 years helping leaders and visionaries find their inner compass, I know this: boundaries protect what matters most. They protect our aliveness. They protect our future. And right now, my boundary work is with my medical care.

I’m not sharing this for pity. I’m sharing it because leadership isn’t separate from life. When I sit with executives, teams, or mothers navigating guilt and grief, I bring all of me,  the coach, the therapist, the creative, the woman whose body is teaching her (again) about limits and courage.

So here’s my invitation:

Where do you need to own your boundaries with your health?

What appointments have you been putting off?

What conversations with your doctor are overdue?

Boundaries aren’t just personal or professional. They’re also profoundly physical. And claiming them,  in the exam room, in the lab results, in the daily choices, is an act of leadership.

I’m in this practice, right alongside you.