Sometimes it can be difficult to say no to other people. Especially in Southern culture it can be seen as rude to say no, even if it is something as small as declining food or drink offered to you in someone’s home. There can be consequences of being afraid to say no. For example, having difficulty saying no to extra duties at work can leave you working long hours, stressed, and secretly feeling resentful and taken advantage of because you didn’t know how to say no. Also always trying to please other people and then never having personal time or time to take care of yourself. Sometimes saying no is important because you put your self-care as your first priority. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself. I read a quote the other day by Warren Buffet which said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything”. It really got me thinking about why it is so hard to say no and what are some ways to improve in your ability to say no. We will tackle some of these questions in the next post. How does saying no make you really successful? What do you think he meant by the quote?
Written By
Christopher Hinds, MRC, LPC
Chris Hinds received an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Since then, he has become a Licensed Professional Counselor working with mental health struggles including depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, trauma, and stress. He has also worked in facilities specializing in […]
Reviewed By
Dr. Christopher Taylor
Dr. Taylor completed his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in existentialism at Texas A&M University. He continues to research and write on the subject of identity and existential development.