Are you spending time on activities and responsibilities you don’t enjoy?
Have you said “Yes” to the majority of requests you receive? Saying “no” more often would bring some relief.
Most of us feel uncomfortable saying “No.” But no other word can provide power for greater freedom.
And remember,
NO is a complete sentence. It does not require justification or explanation.
Gary Ryan Blair
Here are some results when you start saying “No” more often:
You will have more time. Are you lacking the time necessary to pursue your goals, hobbies and interests? You’d have more time if you had said "No" to more requests.
Saying “No” gives you more control over your life. When you say “yes” too much, you’re allowing others to set your schedule for you.
You increase the possibility of achieving your goals. When you say “yes,” you’re often helping others reach their goals. Give yourself the same consideration. Your goals are important, too. Saying “No” more often means more time for you to pursue your dreams.
You set boundaries. Relationships with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and romantic partners all require boundaries. Otherwise, your neighbors would be borrowing your car every day, and your lover might be spending the weekend with someone else! Say “no” when the situation calls for it.
Saying “No” keeps your values intact. Sometimes we’re asked to do things that conflict with our values. When you’re asked to do something that does not align with your values, you protect your integrity by saying “No.”
You discover that people aren’t always as sensitive as you think. People that struggle to say “No” often believe that the other person will be upset or hold it against them. Yes, sometimes. But people’s opinion of you is none of your business. And, you just may find that the other person will understand your refusal.
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We can’t say “no” to every request. But saying “yes” to everything creates stress and keeps us from fulfilling our life purpose. And this isn’t acceptable. Value your time and energy. TIP: Gary Ryan Blair says “Success requires a short “Yes” list, and a long “No” list.”
If you’d like more help on saying “NO,” check out the 15 practical points in Gary Ryan Blair’s "Power of No Manifesto." Click here for it. It’s in both video and print. Choose your preferred format.
Disclosure
Some of my blog posts contain links to products. These are products I use personally or come highly recommended from sources I trust. I would recommend them to my own family. At no extra cost to you, the product creator gives my nonprofit organization a small commission if you click one of these link on my blog and purchase something. This is a win-win-win situation where I get to recommend great products to my readers who benefit tremendously from these products when they buy. My organization receives a small compensation to support our mission and the business gains a new customer. And you pay the same exact price you would pay if you had found the product yourself!