We live in a society that holds the belief that multitasking and being ultra-productive are important for our self-esteem and self-worth, which makes us feel as though we simply can not say the word “no.”
Think about it. When was the last time you said “no” to someone’s request? Has it been a while? We are constantly inundated with requests every day from our employer, our family, our friends, and even ourselves.
Here is the reality. Although we might think that we can’t say “no,” and it might feel really uncomfortable to say “no,” but the truth is we can almost always say “no” and guess what- the world will NOT come crashing down when we say “no.”
Examining what makes us say “yes” when we want to say “no”
Are you afraid that saying “no” will make someone angry with you? Are you afraid if you say “no” that you will lose respect, friendships, or love? Do you feel like you are a bad person if you say “no”? These are all real fears we might have. Let’s evaluate the validity of those thoughts. Saying “no” every once in a while can be healthy. It is unrealistic to believe we should say “no” to everything, but for some things every once in a while can actually help us practice self-care and avoid burnout. Saying “no” to doing that extra favor a friend asked when you really wanted to go to the gym is okay. Knowing your limits and trying to identify what you want to say “yes” to will help make saying “no” easier. Remember saying “no” sometimes doesn’t mean that you are a bad person. “No” is just a good word to practice saying every once in a while.
