There was a time in my life when I made a conscious decision to call my power back. Not out of selfishness—but out of survival. I needed to reclaim control over my own life, to stop feeling like others were constantly pulling from me without giving anything in return. I was tired of being drained, tired of being the one who always showed up while wondering if anyone truly saw me.

So I drew boundaries. I said no. I stepped back.

And in doing so, I started to see more clearly.

Not everyone was taking advantage of me. Some were. Absolutely. More than I wanted to admit. But not all. Some people genuinely needed me. They weren’t trying to manipulate me—they were reaching for help in the only way they knew how.

My sister was one of them.

I had to show her tough love. I had to step away to protect myself. But in the quiet, I realized something: she wasn’t one of the ones draining me. She was hurting. She was reaching. And I almost missed it.

That’s when I learned the difference between defense and discernment.

💡 Discernment isn’t just about saying no. It’s about knowing when to say yes.

It’s about asking:

• Who am I truly helping?
• Who is just taking?
• And who is reaching out, hoping I’ll see them?

Calling your power back doesn’t mean shutting everyone out. It means learning to see clearly. It means protecting your energy without hardening your heart. It means showing love where it’s needed—and not where it’s demanded.

So if you’re in a season of reclaiming yourself, I honor that. But don’t forget to look twice. Some of the people you’re pulling away from might not be your enemies. They might be the ones who need your light the most.

That’s the power of discernment. And that’s the kind of love that heals.