No, not you!

But, hopefully that got your attention.

Have you ever said that to someone? Have you ever wanted to say that to someone?

Most of us have probably felt that way once or twice in our lives… or maybe once or twice in the last hour!

We all have different personal space requirements. Some of us need a lot of alone time and like to maintain our physical and emotional distance. Others prefer being in social situations and being close to other people.

Our personal space requirements are also influenced by our cultural background. Different cultures have different personal space requirements.

Here’s what the website Edupass tells foreign students about our personal space requirements here in the U.S.

When two people are talking to each other, they tend to stand a specific distance apart. Each person has an invisible boundary around their body into which other people may not come. [Italics mine.] If someone pierces this boundary, they will feel uncomfortable and move away to increase the distance between them. (The major exception is family members and other loved ones.) This personal distance is not due to body odor or bad breath, but because closeness lends a sense of intimacy that is at odds with their relationship to the other individual.

Interestingly, the average personal distance varies from culture to culture. Americans tend to require more personal space than in other cultures. So if you try to get too close to an American during your conversation, he or she will feel that you are “in their face” and will try to back away. Try to be aware of this, so if the person to whom you are speaking backs away a little, don’t try to close the gap.

Also, try to avoid physical contact while you are speaking, since this may also lead to discomfort. Touching is a bit too intimate for casual acquaintances. So don’t put your arm around their shoulder, touch their face, or hold their hand. Shaking hands when you initially meet or part is acceptable, but this is only momentary.

Apparently we are getting a reputation for being a bit stand-offish here in the U.S.

So what is that “invisible boundary” they mention?

Well there is much more to your “space” than meets the eye. Your personal space is more than your body, more than your room or your office or your home. Your personal space includes your personal energy space as well, and it’s very possible for someone to be in your energy space even when they’re not around.

Have you ever felt that someone is “in your space” even when they are not anywhere near you?

I know there have been times when I have felt my parents in my space even though they are 2000 miles away!

I also know that I maintain a connection with my daughter even when she’s not around.

The connection itself is not a bad thing. In fact it can sometimes be a very good thing. There are times when having a non-physical connection with others is important and beneficial.

At other times, especially when the connection is made without awareness, it can feel stifling, controlling, overwhelming, or even suffocating.

And it’s at those times – when you feel controlled or suffocated – that it would be good to have some tools and techniques for disconnecting from others.

Now depending on how sensitive you are, having someone “in” your personal energy space can feel just as intense as having someone literally standing “in your face.”

There have been times in my life when those energetic connections have felt more intense!

Fortunately, I’ve learned some techniques to limit the intensity of those connections and create healthy energetic boundaries.

One of the most powerful tools I’ve learned is called Neutral Separations. It’s a deceptively simple technique that instantly reduces the impact of any dysfunctional energetic connections you have with other people.

If you’re interested in learning how to use this technique in your life, I’d love to have you join me for a free teleclass later today.

You’ll not only discover how to use Neutral Separations, you’ll also learn a simple tool for grounding your intentions into the physical world, as well as a technique to help you instantly shift your perspective.

The call is today (Wednesday April 16th) from 4:30 – 5:30 pm Pacific Time (7:30 – 8:30 Eastern).

You can register for the call at the here.

And if you have any questions, leave a comment below.

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Photo credit: Stock Exchange / Simonok