Saying no when we mean it is an essential aspect of our self-worth, and making healthy choices means we value our energy, talent, and time.
The word ‘no’ is one of the shortest words in our vocabulary. Yet, the most difficult for the majority of us to utter. One of the meanings of the word no is; that when you say “no,” you’re expressing disapproval or reluctance to accept anything. There is a widespread belief that saying no is improper and that saying yes is correct. We are often held back from using this word by our fear of; rejection, retribution, justification, being labeled, or being unable to set healthy boundaries. We may fear our aggression and feel bound by societal or family rules.
No enables us to make healthier decisions.
While there is nothing wrong in saying yes to the requests others make of you, they should not infringe upon our health or happiness; when they do, we need to learn to say no. We know early on that saying yes to the demands of others allows us to avoid conflict, criticism, and rejection. Our right to say no is intertwined with our ability to make healthy choices. The consequences of our yes’s when they should be no’s interferes with our inner peace and robs us of our ability to choose what is suitable for us. We often end up feeling bitter, resentful, and angry.
The reward of saying no empowers us.
It might be challenging to say “no” with sincerity; we often second guess ourselves or feel guilty. These are red flags to warn us not to back down. While there is often a time when you should say yes, you will feel joy, certainty, sincerity, and enthusiasm when you do so. When we are saying yes and not feeling these emotions, we need to evaluate and change our response if we need to. While saying yes has a cost, we should feel good about saying so. Saying no is facing a challenge, but the reward we receive is true freedom of choice that makes us feel good. We often say yes because we feel limited by our options, and learning to say no empowers us.
No constitutes a complete sentence.
Start simple when learning to refuse anything. When others request something, you consider their requests carefully, ask yourself if you say yes will you feel good, and do you mean it. The capacity to say no is crucial for a person’s wellness and general health. It is an indication that you respect and understand your self-worth and that you value your energy, talent, and time. People may respond negatively initially; they are not accustomed to hearing you say no. Remember that “no” is a complete sentence. In time you will get comfortable saying no and may find you say it by default naturally, this is part of changing, and in time you will make choices based on what you want to do and create a natural balance.
