– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

[Music]

Hello everyone and welcome back to the

English Dialogue podcast. I'm Emma here

with my co-host Mike. Hey Emma. Hey

listeners. Today's topic is about

setting healthy boundaries and learning

to say no, a skill many of us struggle

with. Absolutely. People often feel

guilty or anxious when they need to say

no. Let's explore why this happens and

how we can become more comfortable

asserting ourselves.

We live in a society that often praises

being agreeable and helpful. There's

pressure to accommodate others even at

our own expense. Exactly. But constantly

saying yes can leave us feeling

resentful, overwhelmed, and burnt out. I

remember a time when I took on every

project at work because I wanted to look

dependable. Eventually, I was swamped,

working late nights and feeling

exhausted. Instead of being seen as a

team player, I became cranky and less

effective. When I finally learned to say

no to extra tasks, I found a healthier

balance. My productivity improved and I

felt better mentally. That's a great

example, Mike. It shows how saying no

can actually improve both our own

well-being and the quality of what we do

say yes to. Yes. And it's not just at

work. Boundaries apply in friendships,

family relationships, and even romantic

partnerships,

right? Sometimes we fear disappointing

people or losing their affection if we

set limits. But healthy relationships

respect boundaries. If someone cares

about us, they'll understand our need to

protect our time and energy. I recall a

situation with a close friend who would

often call me late at night to vent

about her problems. I cared deeply about

her, but these calls were affecting my

sleep and mood. I hesitated for weeks,

worried that saying no might hurt her

feelings. Eventually, I gently explained

that I needed my rest. To my surprise,

she understood and we agreed on better

call times. Our friendship didn't end.

It actually grew stronger because I felt

respected. That's a perfect

illustration. By expressing your

boundaries, you actually maintained a

healthier dynamic. It proves that we

shouldn't assume the worst about

people's reactions. Often others

appreciate honesty. So, how do we start?

For one, we can begin by identifying our

priorities. What matters most to us are

health, family time, personal projects.

When we know our priorities, it's easier

to recognize what requests or demands

don't align with them. Also, we can

practice simple, polite ways to say no.

It doesn't have to be harsh. We can be

firm and kind at the same time.

For instance, if someone asks you to

attend an event you're not interested

in, you might say, "I appreciate the

invite, but I have other commitments

that day." If you don't feel like giving

details, you can simply say, "Thank you

for thinking of me, but I won't be able

to make it." Clear, direct, but still

respectful.

Yes. And often no explanation beyond

that is necessary. We don't have to

justify our decisions extensively.

That's an important point.

Overexplaining can make it seem like

we're unsure of our choice. Another tip

is to buy time. If we're caught off

guard by a request, we can say, "Let me

think about that and get back to you."

This helps avoid a knee-jerk yes out of

pressure or habit. We can also use a

tiered approach. Maybe say yes to the

relationship but no to a specific

request. For example, if a coworker asks

you to handle a project you don't have

time for, you could respond. I'd love to

help support the team, but I'm currently

at capacity with my other tasks. Is

there another way I can contribute that

fits my schedule? This approach shows

willingness without sacrificing your

boundaries.

That's a great strategy. flexible but

still protective of your limits. Over

time, setting boundaries gets easier.

It's like building a muscle. The more we

practice, the stronger we get. At first,

saying no might feel uncomfortable,

especially if we're used to being people

pleasers. But consider the long-term

benefits. We become more genuine, less

resentful, and more in control of our

lives.

Also, setting boundaries can help us

maintain healthier mental health.

Without boundaries, stress and anxiety

can skyrocket. I've seen clients in my

coaching practice who reached a breaking

point because they never said no. They

tried to be everything for everyone and

ended up depleted. Once they learned to

set boundaries, they had more time for

self-care, more energy, and felt more

authentic in their relationships. It was

like a weight lifted off their

shoulders. That resonates. Without

boundaries, we risk burning out and

losing ourselves in others demands. Yes.

And boundaries also teach others how to

treat us. If we're always compliant,

people might assume we have no limits.

But once we start drawing lines, people

learn what's acceptable and what isn't.

This can feel like a cultural shift if

we're used to being the go-to person who

never refuses.

True. Some people might initially be

surprised or push back, especially if

they benefited from our lack of

boundaries before. In those moments,

it's important to stay calm and firm. If

someone tries to guilt trip you,

remember that their reaction is not a

reflection of your worth. You're doing

what's needed to protect your

well-being. Over time, as they adjust,

many will come to respect your stance.

That's key. Not taking the other

person's surprise or frustration

personally. It's about them adjusting to

a new pattern. And if someone truly

cannot respect your boundaries, that

might be a sign that relationship needs

re-evaluation.

Yes, healthy relationships involve

mutual respect. Boundaries aren't

selfish. They're necessary for

respectful

connections. Exactly. Every no creates

space for a more meaningful yes.

[Music]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
boundaries /ˈbaʊndəriz/ B2	noun - limits or borders that define acceptable behavior or personal space
pressure /ˈpreʃər/ B1	noun - the force or influence exerted on someone
respect /rɪˈspekt/ B1	verb - to admire or regard someone or something highly noun - a feeling of admiration or regard for someone or something
limits /ˈlɪmɪts/ B1	noun - the furthest point or boundary
priorities /praɪˈɒrətiz/ B2	noun - things that are considered more important than others
practice /ˈpræktɪs/ B1	noun - repeated exercise to improve skill verb - to perform repeatedly to improve
guilt /ɡɪlt/ B2	noun - the feeling of having done something wrong
anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ B2	noun - a feeling of worry or nervousness
stress /stres/ B1	noun - mental or emotional tension
agree /əˈɡriː/ A2	verb - to have the same opinion or to consent
resentful /rɪˈzentfəl/ B2	adjective - feeling bitterness or indignation
overwhelmed /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmd/ B2	adjective - overcome by a strong feeling or condition
accommodate /əˈkɒmədeɪt/ B2	verb - to provide space or fit in with others' needs
productivity /ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/ B2	noun - the state or quality of being productive
well-being /ˌwel ˈbiːɪŋ/ B2	noun - the state of being happy and healthy
appreciate /əˈpriːʃieɪt/ B1	verb - to recognize the value or appreciate something
justify /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/ B2	verb - to show or prove to be right or reasonable
assume /əˈsjuːm/ B1	verb - to take for granted or suppose
honest /ˈɒnɪst/ B1	adjective - telling the truth and not cheating
flexible /ˈfleksəbl/ B1	adjective - able to change easily or adaptable

Key Grammar Structures

• Today's topic **is about** setting healthy boundaries and learning to say no, a skill many of us struggle with.

  ➔ Present simple (to be) + prepositional phrase

  ➔ The verb "is" is the present simple form of the verb "to be", used to state a fact. It's followed by a prepositional phrase, "about setting...", describing the topic.

• People **often feel** guilty or anxious when they need to say no.

  ➔ Adverb of frequency + Present Simple

  ➔ The adverb "often" indicates frequency, and "feel" is in the present simple tense to describe a general truth or habit.

• But constantly saying yes **can leave** us feeling resentful, overwhelmed, and burnt out.

  ➔ Modal verb + infinitive

  ➔ "Can" is a modal verb expressing possibility or ability, followed by the base form of the verb "leave".

• Eventually, I **was swamped**, working late nights and feeling exhausted.

  ➔ Past continuous tense

  ➔ The past continuous tense ("was swamped") describes an action in progress in the past.

• Instead of **being seen** as a team player, I became cranky and less effective.

  ➔ Gerund phrase (passive voice)

  ➔ "Being seen" is a gerund phrase in the passive voice. It acts as the object of the preposition "of" and describes the state of being perceived.

• That's a great example, Mike. It **shows how** saying no can actually improve both our own well-being and the quality of what we do say yes to.

  ➔ Subordinate clause of manner (how)

  ➔ "Shows how..." introduces a subordinate clause explaining the *way* or *manner* in which something happens. The clause describes *how* saying no can improve things.

• Sometimes we **fear disappointing** people or losing their affection if we set limits.

  ➔ Present participle as an adjective

  ➔ "Disappointing" is a present participle functioning as an adjective, describing the kind of people we fear to disapoint.

• If someone cares about us, **they'll understand** our need to protect our time and energy.

  ➔ Conditional sentence type 1

  ➔ This is a first conditional sentence. "If" + present simple, + will/shall + base form. It expresses a likely outcome in the future.

• That's a **perfect illustration**. By expressing your boundaries, you actually maintained a healthier dynamic.

  ➔ Adjective + Noun (perfect illustration)

  ➔ "Perfect" is an adjective describing the noun "illustration."

• If we're always compliant, people **might assume** we have no limits.

  ➔ Modal verb + Present Simple

  ➔ "Might" is a modal verb expressing possibility, followed by the base form of the verb "assume".