There was a time I said yes to everything — and everyone.

Every call, every favor, every event that I didn’t have the capacity for but showed up to anyway because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I told myself I was being helpful. Supportive. Selfless.
But really, I was being drained.

I didn’t realize how much energy I was giving away until I had none left for myself.

Protecting my energy wasn’t something I was taught — it was something I learned the hard way, after too many breakdowns disguised as “I’m just tired.”
It wasn’t about cutting everyone off. It was about finally learning how to stop cutting into myself.

Here’s what I had to face: every yes costs something.
Time, energy, peace, focus — you spend a piece of yourself with each one.
And if you’re not careful, you’ll end up giving discounts on your soul.

The shift happened when I started asking one simple question before saying yes:
“Do I actually have the energy for this — emotionally, mentally, spiritually?”

If the answer was no, I stopped pretending it was yes.

That one boundary changed everything.

It gave me back mornings that didn’t start in resentment.
It gave me permission to rest without guilt.
It reminded me that people who truly value me don’t just love my effort — they love my existence.

Protecting your energy isn’t selfish. It’s sacred.
Because peace doesn’t grow in places that constantly drain it.

These days, I guard my energy like it’s currency — because it is.
And I spend it where it multiplies peace, not depletes it.