Setting Boundaries with Your ING Type
Boundaries protect your energy so you can show up as your Truest Self. Here’s how each type sets them.
What You’ll Learn: Setting boundaries with your ING type starts with understanding your specific struggle. Understanding YOUR specific struggle helps you set boundaries that actually protect your energy while living as your Truest Self. Not sure what your ING type is? Learn more about what ING energy is.
Why Boundaries Matter for Your ING Type
Boundaries aren’t about keeping people out. They’re about protecting your ING energy so you can actually help others. That’s why setting boundaries with your ING type is essential for protection.
When you don’t have boundaries, you drain your core energy. You give from an empty tank. You show up as a depleted version of yourself instead of your Truest Self.
Here’s what happens without boundaries:
Your ING energy gets misused. You say yes when you should say no. You help in ways that drain you instead of energize you.
Other people take advantage of your natural strengths. They don’t mean to harm you. But without boundaries, your gifts become their expectations.
You start resenting the very people you were trying to help. The relationships you invested in feel draining instead of life-giving.
The truth: Boundaries don’t stop you from helping. They help you help better.
When you protect your ING energy with healthy boundaries, you can show up with Mastery and Maturity. Want to understand the Three M’s of ING energy more deeply? You can give from fullness instead of emptiness.
Setting boundaries with your ING type means understanding how YOUR energy works. Not how someone else’s works. Not how you wish it worked. How it actually flows.
Each ING type struggles with boundaries differently. Understanding yours changes everything.
How Each ING Type Struggles with Boundaries
Each ING type struggles with boundaries differently. Understanding YOUR ING type’s specific struggle helps you set boundaries that actually work.
Type One – perceive ING™
You see what needs to be fixed everywhere. Every problem feels like YOUR problem to solve. You struggle saying no because you can see the consequences if something doesn’t get done right. You take on fixing things that aren’t yours to fix.
Your boundary challenge: Letting other people experience natural consequences without rescuing them.
Type Two – serve ING™
You feel other people’s needs before they even ask. Helping feels like breathing to you. You struggle with boundaries because saying no feels like you’re abandoning someone. You fear disappointing people or seeming unhelpful.
Your boundary challenge: Recognizing that healthy service requires limits, not endless availability.
Type Three – teach ING™
You see the learning opportunity in everything. You want to share knowledge and help people understand. You struggle with boundaries because you over-explain. You keep teaching even when people aren’t ready to learn.
Your boundary challenge: Accepting that not every moment needs a lesson. Sometimes people need space, not information.
Type Four – encourage ING™
You see potential in everyone. You naturally cheer people on and believe in their possibilities. You struggle with boundaries because you keep encouraging people who aren’t taking action. You stay invested in their growth longer than they are.
Your boundary challenge: Releasing people to their own journey instead of carrying their potential for them.
Type Five – give ING™
You love generosity. Giving makes you come alive, whether it’s time, resources, or energy. You struggle with boundaries because giving feels so good. You don’t notice you’re empty until you’ve given everything away.
Your boundary challenge: Giving from overflow instead of depletion. Protecting your energy so you can keep giving.
Type Six – lead ING™
You see the path forward clearly. You know how to get from here to there. You struggle with boundaries because you take responsibility for everyone’s journey. You lead even when people don’t ask for direction.
Your boundary challenge: Leading those who want to follow, not dragging those who don’t.
Type Seven – mercy ING™
You feel compassion deeply. Other people’s pain moves you to action immediately. You struggle with boundaries because every hurt feels urgent. You absorb other people’s emotional burdens as your own.
Your boundary challenge: Offering compassion without drowning in everyone else’s pain.
Knowing your struggle is the first step. Setting healthy boundaries is the second.
Setting Boundaries with Your ING Type: Practical Steps
Setting boundaries with your ING type starts with understanding how YOUR energy actually works. Here’s what healthy boundaries look like for each type.
Type One – perceive ING
The “Not My Problem” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Is this mine to fix, or am I taking responsibility that belongs to someone else?”
Let people experience consequences. You can see the problem without solving it. Your perceive ING energy helps others see clearly, not rescues them from reality.
Healthy boundary: “I can see this needs attention. What’s your plan for handling it?”
Type Two – serve ING
The “Full Tank” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Am I serving from fullness or emptiness right now?”
Say no when you’re depleted. Your serve ING energy is most powerful when you’re energized, not exhausted.
Healthy boundary: “I want to help you, and I need to recharge first. Can we connect tomorrow?”
Type Three – teach ING
The “Readiness” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Did they ask for this information, or am I teaching without invitation?”
Stop mid-explanation if someone isn’t engaged. Your teach ING energy works best with willing students, not captive audiences.
Healthy boundary: “Would it be helpful if I explained this, or would you rather figure it out yourself?”
Type Four – encourage ING
The “Active Investment” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Are they investing in their own growth, or am I more invested than they are?”
Cheer for people who are actually running the race. Your encourage ING energy multiplies when it meets effort, not replaces it.
Healthy boundary: “I believe in you completely. Let me know when you’re ready to take action.”
Type Five – give ING
The “Overflow” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Am I giving from my overflow, or am I giving what I need for myself?”
Keep something for yourself. Your give ING energy is sustainable when you give from abundance, not scarcity.
Healthy boundary: “I’d love to help with this. Here’s what I can give without depleting myself.”
Type Six – lead ING
The “Invitation” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Did they ask for my leadership, or am I taking charge without permission?”
Lead people who want your direction. Your lead ING energy inspires willing followers, not reluctant participants.
Healthy boundary: “I see a clear path forward. Would it be helpful if I shared what I’m seeing?”
Type Seven – mercy ING
The “Compassion Without Drowning” Boundary
Ask yourself: “Can I offer compassion without taking on their pain as mine?”
Feel with people without becoming them. Your mercy ING energy can hold space for pain without absorbing it.
Healthy boundary: “I’m here with you in this. And I can’t carry it for you.”
Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re doors you control.
The Door Analogy: Opening and Closing Access
Think of boundaries like a door. You control who has access and when you grant it.
You can open the door wide and invite someone in. You can crack it open for a brief conversation. You can close it completely when you need space.
The door isn’t locked forever. It opens and closes as needed. Boundaries aren’t rigid walls. They’re flexible access points that you control.
Opening the door doesn’t mean it stays open forever.
Just because you helped someone once doesn’t mean you’re available to help them always. You can open your door today and close it tomorrow.
But here’s the truth: You can’t help anyone if you’ve left your door open so long that you’re completely drained.
Closing the door doesn’t mean you don’t care.
You can love someone deeply and still need space. Boundaries protect relationships. They don’t destroy them.
The door belongs to you.
Other people can knock. They can ask for access. But YOU decide when and how to open it.
Setting boundaries with your ING type means knowing when to open your door and when to close it. Your perceive ING type might leave the door open too long, trying to fix everyone’s problems. Your mercy ING type might struggle closing it at all.
But here’s the truth: Setting boundaries with your ING type means protecting your energy before you’re completely drained.
Boundaries are made one step at a time.
You don’t need to close every door at once. Start with one person. One situation. One small boundary.
Open the door when you have energy to give. Close it when you need to refill. This is how you protect your ING energy while still helping others.
Setting boundaries with your ING type means protecting your energy while still helping others.
Boundaries Don’t Mean You Stop Helping
This is the fear that stops most people from setting boundaries with their ING type.
“If I set boundaries, I won’t be able to help anyone anymore.”
That’s not true.
Boundaries don’t stop you from helping. They help you help better.
Without boundaries:
- You help from depletion
- You give what you don’t have
- You show up exhausted and resentful
- Your impact shrinks over time
With boundaries:
- You help from fullness
- You give from overflow
- You show up energized and willing
- Your impact grows over time
Boundaries actually INCREASE your ability to help.
When you protect your ING energy, you have MORE to offer. Not less.
Your natural strengths become sustainable instead of draining. You can use your ING energy with Mastery and Maturity instead of depletion and resentment.
The hard truth: Not all relationships survive new boundaries.
Some people only want access to your ING energy when it’s unlimited. When you set boundaries, they leave.
Let them go.
Healthy relationships respect boundaries. Unhealthy ones resist them.
The people who truly value you will adjust. Understanding how your ING energy shows up in relationships helps you set boundaries that strengthen connections instead of weakening them. Learn more about ING energy in relationships. They’ll respect your new boundaries. They’ll appreciate the healthier version of you that emerges.
Setting boundaries is an act of love.
You’re protecting the very thing that makes you valuable. Your ING energy. Your Truest Self.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Boundaries keep your cup full so you can keep pouring.
The struggling stops when you protect your ING energy with healthy boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Setting Boundaries with Your ING Type
What if setting boundaries makes people think I don’t care about them anymore?
Boundaries show you care about the relationship long-term. You’re protecting your energy so you can keep showing up. People who truly value you will understand this.
How do I know if I need better boundaries?
You feel resentful when people ask for help. You say yes but feel angry about it. You’re exhausted from helping others. These are signs your boundaries need work. Psychology Today offers additional signs of boundary issues that can help you assess where you need support.
Can I set boundaries without hurting people’s feelings?
You can’t control how people respond to your boundaries. You can only control how clearly and kindly you communicate them. Healthy people respect boundaries even if they’re initially disappointed.
What if my ING type makes boundaries feel impossible?
Every ING type struggles with boundaries differently. Your type doesn’t make boundaries impossible. It just shows you WHERE you’ll struggle most and what kind of boundaries you need.
Do I need to explain my boundaries to people?
No. “No” is a complete sentence. You can offer brief context if you want, but you don’t owe anyone a detailed explanation for protecting your energy.
What if I’ve never had boundaries before? Where do I start?
Start with one person in one area. Don’t try to set boundaries everywhere at once. Pick the relationship that drains you most and set one small boundary there.
Will setting boundaries change my relationships?
Yes. Healthy relationships will get stronger. Unhealthy ones might end. This is actually a feature, not a bug. Boundaries reveal which relationships were built on mutual respect versus unlimited access.
How is setting boundaries with your ING type different from regular boundaries?
Your ING type shows you your specific vulnerability. A perceive ING type over-fixes. A mercy ING type over-absorbs pain. Understanding your type helps you set boundaries where YOU actually need them.
What if people say I’m being selfish?
Protecting your energy isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. You can’t help anyone from depletion. Research shows that healthy boundaries actually improve relationships, not damage them. People who benefit from your lack of boundaries will resist when you create them.
Can boundaries be too rigid?
Yes. Boundaries should be firm but flexible. They’re doors, not walls. You control when to open and close them based on your energy and the situation.
Why is setting boundaries with your ING type different from general boundary advice?
Your ING type shows your specific vulnerability. Generic boundary advice doesn’t account for how YOUR ING energy works.
Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Living Your ING energy?
You’ve learned how each ING type struggles with boundaries. Ready to discover how to live fully as your ING type? Start living your ING energy with intention. You’ve seen what healthy boundaries look like for YOUR type. Now it’s time to take the next step.
Not sure where to start? Take the free ING energy quiz. →
Your identity IS your purpose.🤞
Boundaries protect your ING energy so you can live as your Truest Self.