Healthy Guardrails to Help You Choose What You Let In, Manage Your Energy, and Grow from the Inside Out

by Julia Jonson, Yoga Educator, E-RYT 500

Healing often changes the standards we set for ourselves. As you become more aware of your time, energy, and inner needs, you may feel a natural pull toward being selective—not in a rigid way, but in a way that supports the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Why Choosing What You Let In Matters

The emerging version of you is tender at first. It needs space, support, and care. The people you spend time with, the commitments you take on, and the environments you enter all shape your energy. Choosing what you let in acts like guardrails, helping you stay aligned with your growth rather than being pulled back into old patterns.

Energy doesn’t stay contained within us—it flows outward and inward, shaping our thoughts, words, and actions. Being intentional about what enters your life allows you to respond thoughtfully, rather than react automatically.

Manage and Conserve Your Energy Without Shutting the World Out

Being mindful of what you let in also means knowing when to step away. Distancing yourself from situations that drain or destabilize you isn’t selfish—it’s self-respect. You can honor your truth without being unkind by saying things like:

• “This isn’t right for me right now.”
• “I need to pass on this.”
  

Clear, calm communication is a hallmark of personal maturity. Protecting your energy isn’t about building walls—it’s about creating flexible guardrails that evolve with you.

Strengthen Yourself from the Inside Out

As your inner wholeness grows, external circumstances have less impact. The Bhagavad Gita teaches:

“Perform your duties without attachment to the results, and remain the same in pleasure and pain.”

This wisdom reminds us that true strength comes from within. When you cultivate this steadiness, external praise, criticism, joy, or disappointment can’t shake your center. You build resilience, clarity, and the ability to stay aligned with your values no matter what life brings.

Embrace Challenges as Part of Growth

Choosing what you let in doesn’t mean avoiding all discomfort. Challenges are unavoidable, and growth often requires patience, problem-solving, and effective communication. The key is to spend your energy on what nourishes your evolution rather than what drains it.

Your Energy, Your Life

No one knows your needs better than you do. You have the right—and responsibility—to design your life in a way that protects your energy and supports your personal growth. By choosing what you let in with intention, you create a life that feels grounded, authentic, and aligned with the person you’re becoming.

Read Aloud on Repeat! 

At the close of my classes, as students gently emerge from savasana, I offer these words: “Trusting in the power of affirmation as you remain restful, and your subconscious mind is open to receive…” I then share an affirmation—sometimes drawn from a book, a yoga text, or something I’ve written myself.

This is one I recently jotted down and felt especially drawn to. I hope you’ll read it aloud and return to it often, especially when you’re calm, present, and open.

Affirmation: Strength from Within

I strengthen myself from the inside out.
As my inner wholeness grows, the world around me holds less power over my peace.
I act with integrity and effort, releasing attachment to outcomes.
In pleasure and pain, praise and criticism, I remain centered and steady.

I welcome challenges as part of my growth, knowing they refine my patience, clarity, and wisdom.
I choose where my energy flows, investing it in what nourishes my evolution.
I honor my needs, protect my inner space, and live in alignment with my values.