How to stop saying Yes when you should say No

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"Live your life for you, not for anyone else. Don’t let the fear of being judged, rejected or disliked stop you from being yourself”

~Sonya Parker

Saying no doesn’t mean you’re a sad person. It doesn’t mean you are rude, selfish, or unkind. No shouldn’t be an off-limits word, but something that we decide by ourselves, based on our discretion.

Knowing your value. Learning to say no is realizing that you are valuable and choosing your opinion about yourself over others. Living your life depending on other people’s approval will never make you feel free and happy.

It's not worth it. Learning to say no is deciding if saying yes is worth it. Think about the anguish, stress, and resentment that saying yes has caused you. Wouldn’t it be so much easier and straightforward to just say no in the first place?

Helpful Tips for Saying No

- Be direct, such as “no, I can’t” or “no, I don’t want to.”

- Don’t apologize and give all sorts of reasons.

- Don’t lie. Lying will most likely lead to guilt—and remember, this is what you are trying to avoid feeling.

- Remember that it is better to say no now than be resentful later.

- Be polite, such as “Thanks for asking.”

- Don’t say “I’ll think about it” if you don’t want to do it. This will just prolong the situation and make you feel even more stressed.