When was the last time you felt truly peaceful? In this episode, Andrew and Cat unpack what peace actually means — and how to protect it when life, family, work, and the holidays all compete for your calm. You’ll learn how to draw healthy boundaries, avoid people-pleasing, and keep your inner world steady even when the outer world isn’t.

Big ideas

• Peace is an inside job. Calm isn’t the absence of chaos — it’s your ability to stay centered within it.
• Boundaries = self-respect. Setting and keeping boundaries may upset others, but it’s how you teach people how to treat you.
• You can’t please everyone. Someone will always be disappointed — make sure it’s not you.
• Guilt isn’t a compass. Feeling guilty after saying no doesn’t mean you’re wrong; it means you’re growing.
• External calm starts with internal clarity. What drains your peace most — your schedule, your phone, or your thoughts?

Key takeaways

1️⃣ Define peace for yourself. Is it quiet time, emotional balance, or simply less chaos? You can’t protect what you can’t define.

2️⃣ Stop overcommitting. Every “yes” to others is a “no” to your own calm.

3️⃣ Set clear, kind boundaries. “I’m not available that day” is a complete sentence.

4️⃣ Handle guilt with compassion. You’re not being selfish — you’re creating a more peaceful version of you.

5️⃣ Don’t absorb other people’s storms. Be supportive without taking on their chaos.

6️⃣ Create peace rituals. Start mornings quietly, take digital breaks, and end the day tech-free.

7️⃣ Limit news intake. You can be informed without being overwhelmed.

Practice these peace-protecting habits

• Take a “no explanation” day: decline plans without justifying it.
• Zip up your energy: visualize a protective bubble before entering stressful environments.
• Replace doomscrolling with sunlight and movement.
• Offer an alternative plan when saying no (“Can we meet for lunch next month instead?”).
• Mute notifications — your peace doesn’t need a ping.

Mindset shifts

• “Rest isn’t lazy — it’s leadership.”
• “Clarity is kind.”
• “I can love people and still say no.”
• “My peace is my responsibility.”

Glimmers

• Cat: Their Instagram video of Andrew playing guitar went viral — proof that consistency and creativity pay off. 🎸
• Andrew: His post-surgery checkup showed major healing progress — a powerful reminder that slow recovery isprogress.

Connect

• Website: fiveyearyou.com
• Instagram & TikTok: @fiveyearyou
• Email: [email protected]

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