A Personal Story-When You Stand for Yourself, the Universe Stands with You

Let me tell you a little story about boundaries, energy, and why I’ve packed my life into boxes yet again — for the fifth time since I moved to Auckland. Yes, five times.

When I posted recently that I was moving again, I meant it. One week into the new house and I was already out the door.

But this time, it wasn’t because of overgrown spaces or sudden changes. It was more layered — a mix of feeling misaligned, unexpected energy, and a deep pull to honour myself.

Before moving in, I had asked a very clear question: “Is there any smoking or alcohol in the house?” The landlord — who also lived in the house — reassured me: “No, no, no. They very rarely smoke, and always outside.”

Seemed fine. I felt it was the right time, the house looked good, and I was genuinely hopeful. 

But… I’ll be honest — I had that feeling. That quiet whisper that said, “Something’s not quite right.” I brushed it aside. I told myself, “Don’t be too picky.” 

I didn’t give myself the benefit of the doubt. My intuition was nudging me… and this time, I ignored it. Maybe next time, I’ll listen.

Because the moment I stepped in on day one, I realised that someone — the other flatmate — was vaping inside the house.

Now, some might think, “It’s just vaping. No big deal.” But for me, it is a big deal. I’m a former smoker. I’ve done the deep work to move away from that habit — not just physically, but emotionally and energetically. I know how nicotine affects my nervous system, my clarity, my vibe.

Protecting my space from that is a non-negotiable. It’s not about judging others — it’s about honouring myself.

So I brought it up. Gently. Honestly. I approached the landlord — who, again, lives in the house — and tried to have a respectful conversation.

And that’s when everything shifted.

He told me he didn’t mind the vaping. That he was also an ex-smoker and didn’t see the problem.

When I asked why this wasn’t made clear when I specifically asked about smoking, he made it sound like it was an irrelevant thing — something I was blowing out of proportion.

He didn’t take ownership. He didn’t try to understand. Instead, I felt dismissed, invalidated, and even a bit gaslighted. Like I was the difficult one for standing up for myself.

That, right there, was the real deal-breaker. Not the vaping — but the attitude. The lack of care. The unwillingness to take responsibility for something I’d asked clearly about.

He’s a lovely person in many ways. I can see that. But this situation wasn’t aligned with me — not energetically, not emotionally, and certainly not practically. So I chose to leave.

Yes, it meant packing again. Yes, it meant finding a new place. Yes, it meant a lot of effort.

But I did it. I chose self-respect. I chose to protect my energy. I chose alignment over convenience. And I’m proud of that.

And you know what? The universe had my back.

A dear friend reached out to let me know a room was available in her place — just as I was looking. The timing aligned effortlessly. It felt so right. So grounding. So held.

I felt empowered. I felt validated — not by others, but by myself. Because I had my own back.

That’s what I want to share with you: When you protect your values — when you choose integrity over people-pleasing, truth over comfort — something beautiful happens.

The universe listens. It moves pieces around. It meets you where you are.

So if you’re in a situation that’s poking at your boundaries — pay attention. If someone’s dismissing your needs or making you feel small — trust that feeling. And if something inside you says, “This isn’t right for me,” — listen.

Because when you have your back, the universe stands with you.

It might not always be easy. It might not always make sense to others. But it will always be worth it.

You are your own home first. Protect it fiercely.