Episode 17: Special Edition on Boundaries – Why Saying No is the Deepest Yes

In this episode of the Asian Rebel Club podcast, I sit down with Joachim (Jay) Brackx - musician-turned-entrepreneur, teacher, and host of Relating to Self - to explore the radical power of boundaries.

Growing up in families where survival meant prioritizing everyone else’s feelings, neither of us learned the language of boundaries until much later. In Asian households, especially, the word itself barely exists. Instead, we inherited guilt, shame, and a constant pressure to self-sacrifice. Together, we unpack what it means to reclaim boundaries as a practice of integrity, self-trust, and love.

We explore:

• Why boundaries are not walls, but invitations to healthier relationships
• The difference between acting from guilt vs. genuine desire
• How cultural conditioning in Asian families erodes our sense of self
• The link between boundaries, work ethic, and redefining success
• Why compassion and shadow work are essential to stop gaslighting yourself

This is a conversation about building safety inside yourself so you no longer people-please or betray your truth.

🎧 Listen now and share it with someone who struggles to say “no” without guilt.

🌀 Question for you:
 What boundary could change your life if you honored it today?

Explore Jay's guided meditation on boundaries: https://insighttimer.com/joachim/guided-meditations/a-meditation-to-feel-powerful-in-your-boundaries