It is perfectly OK to say, "No." You have permission. Many people do not like to disappoint others by saying, "No." They will tend to acquiesce even when overloaded. Sometimes those with the need to please will agree to do something when it is not in their best interest just to be accommodating. Saying yes when we want or need to say no is a way to put others first. Indeed we don't want to hurt others' feelings, however we hurt our own when we overload ourselves and say yes to tasks that we don't want to or don't have time to do.
Saying "No" to things you do not want to do is a form of self-care. By saying "No" to the things that you do not want to do makes time for the things that you do want to do. Every time we say yes, we are saying no to something else. If we say yes to things we do not want to do, we are actually saying no to things that we do want to do. By saying yes to things we don't want to do we fill our lives with tasks that do not serve us, drain our energy, and are not supporting us in creating our best lives.
When we decline a request, we do not have to go into a long explanation. Just say, "No." Be direct, be polite and don't apologize. It is OK to say "No" and it is all right
not to have a reason. You do not have to have an excuse, alibi or anything else. It is ok just to say no and leave it at that.
Just say, "No" so that you can say, "Yes" to the things you really want to do. For every "Yes" you say, you are saying "No" to something else. When you say, "Yes" to something you don't want to do, you actually say, "No" to what you do want to do. Remember, this is your life. Do you want to spend it doing things you don't want to do or by doing what brings you joy, happiness and contributes to your overall satisfaction?
Practice saying, "No" today. See how it feels not to commit to things you do not want to do and leave space for things you do want in your life.
About the Author
Coach Lee, MS is an Int'l Business & Personal Coach with 17 years of corporate management experience. She is a faculty member at the Univ. of Phoenix, a trainer for CoachU, the Int'l Coach Academy & Colorado Free Univ. She is a published writer & quoted as an expert in coaching. She is currently earning a Doctorate Degree in Applied Management & Decision Sciences, specializing in Business Coaching. http://www.365daysofcoaching.com Email Coach Lee: rachelle@coachlee.com