A Blissful Life 8/26/25: Boundaries: Protecting Your Energy & Joy

The other morning I was walking down the boardwalk, watching the ocean. Most days, it comes right up to the edge of the sand and then pulls back, steady and rhythmic, as if it knows exactly where it belongs. But those of us who live here know that it isn’t always like that. We’ve seen what happens when the ocean pushes past its boundary. During storms, it rushes into streets and homes, scattering everything in its path. It takes time, and a lot of care, for things to return to balance again.

Our own lives work much the same way. When we don’t honor our boundaries, we let energy spill into places it was never meant to go. We say yes when we mean no, we keep giving when we are already depleted, and before long we feel as flooded as the streets after a storm. It doesn’t happen all at once. It creeps in gradually, until we realize we’ve lost track of where our own shoreline is.

That’s why boundaries matter. They are not selfish or cold, they are the lines that keep us steady. They protect our wellbeing so that when we do give, it comes from a place of clarity and choice rather than obligation and resentment. They are what let us show up fully, with energy that feels sustainable.

The challenge, of course, is that boundaries often come with guilt. We worry about letting others down. We fear being seen as unavailable or unkind. But when we overextend ourselves, we end up offering a watered-down version of who we are. A gentle “I can’t tonight” or “I need time for myself first” may feel hard in the moment, but it is more honest, and ultimately more loving, than a reluctant yes.

I’ve come to think of boundaries not as walls but as tide lines. They’re not rigid; they shift with the seasons of life. Some days, we can give more, other days less. But the key is knowing where that line is for us in each moment and respecting it. That respect starts with listening to our own signals: the tightness in the chest before agreeing to something, the heaviness in the gut, the exhaustion that lingers when we’ve said yes too many times. These are our inner waves telling us we’ve gone too far past our edge.

And just as our community knows how to rebuild after storms, we can also learn to restore our own balance by practicing small boundaries daily. Turning off the phone for an hour, carving out quiet time in the morning, leaving the gathering when you’re ready, not when everyone else is— it doesn’t have to be dramatic to be powerful. These choices remind us that our energy is precious, and that we have the right to decide where it flows.

In the end, boundaries allow us to live with more honesty, more energy, and more joy. They are what protect us from being swept under when life gets overwhelming. And they remind us that saying no to what drains us is really saying yes: to peace, to presence, to the life we want to live.

If this resonates, come breathe with us at Ocean Bliss Yoga. Our classes and workshops are designed to help you practice these boundaries in real time– with a steady breath, clear attention, and kind limits. Join our heart-centered community by the water and give yourself the space to restore, realign, and return to what matters. Sign up at oceanblissyoga.net. Call or text me with any questions at 917-318-1168.