Episode 42 - Boundaries, Balance & Becoming You: Life Lessons from Cheryl Schultz

By Jessica Garrison

We are joined by another guest that Melissa knows from the Fresno County Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and each time we hear from them they are a knockout, so I knew Cheryl Schultz would be no different. She’s adventurous and a learner, who loves animals, God, her family, and is always looking for new ways to help her community. 

There was something so calming about Cheryl’s voice, so no matter what the two were talking about, I knew I was going to love it. Even so, there are so many gems in this episode, and one of the topic points I kept going back to was confidently setting boundaries. There’s only 24 hours in a day, but we try to cram in as much as we can in that one day period. When remote work became prominent in 2020, it was always with us. Instead of clocking out for the day and going home, a lot of people had it follow them around with their laptop or phone. Cheryl says that she was a yes person, always wanting to help someone out, but there’s only so much time she can dedicate to other people. She says she has been better about taking the time to think things over and contemplates if it even aligns with her why or her values. 

If a friend asks you to do something that really doesn’t align with your why, your values, or your boundaries, then it’s a sign that maybe you shouldn’t say yes. Cheryl says that you have to be firm sometimes, and friendship can be lost from this switch. It’s helpful though to remind yourself that a true friend wouldn’t purposely push you past your boundaries, and they would respect how you feel about the situation, even if they didn’t agree with it. I think it is so important to remember that even if someone doesn’t agree with your boundaries, they should respect them and not make comments or try to push you further than you’re willing to go. No matter what decisions you make, Cheryl says to make sure you take time to think about it, but do not doubt your intuition. 

Cheryl also says that sometimes we have to let go of things to receive more opportunities. It can be difficult to let things go because you don’t know when something else will arrive. Even if it seems perfect for you, that doesn’t always mean it’s the right time or season for it. Listen to your gut because something even better might show up for you. It’s difficult to have that talk with yourself and make those tough decisions, but when one door closes another one opens. It might even be better than what you were expecting, or it just might be the right time, and that makes everything better in the end. 

I’m so thankful that Melissa has brought Cheryl to us and we were able to hear her story. There is so much knowledge to take from this episode and unlimited resources that are being brought to us. Always trust yourself and trust your boundaries because it will lead you down the path that is best for you.

Ways to Engage: Think of those special qualities about yourself, like your character traits. What makes you who you are? What is different about you than from those surrounding you? There is something that each of us brings to the table that is unique, and it should be celebrated rather than hidden.