“Our ability and capacity to say ‘no’ with confidence is one of the most important aspects of creating peace and power in our lives. This is about creating healthy boundaries, honoring ourselves, and being real – it’s not about being closed, cynical, or unwilling.” – Mike Robbins
How many times have you taken on too much for yourself simply because you were not strong enough to say “no?” It happens to all of us — there are so many demands made on us from all segments of our life. There are some days we feel we can sink under the weight of everyone wanting us to do something for them!
The ability to say “no” with confidence helps us regain a sense of calm and balance in our lives. It also gives us a genuine sense of personal empowerment and let’s us create some very critical boundaries for ourselves. When stress and overwhelm are high, there are undoubtedly many areas in your life which would benefit from saying “no” to certain extra or unnecessary tasks, chores, or commitments.
Of course, it’s often much easier to just bend and say “of course I’ll take care of that” even if your heart starts pounding and your mind races, trying to figure out how you truly WILL handle another commitment. That’s when one’s personal stress levels start to escalate. So I do believe that a sincere and genuine “no” is better than a coerced and reluctant “yes.”
Examine each situation carefully, with some serious consideration, and decide if it is something that you can easily, happily commit to. If not, and you truly feel that your highest good will be served by saying a definite “no” — go ahead, and be strong and sure about it. It is key to release any guilt and move forward after your decision. By decreasing the daily overload with your newfound ability to say “no,” you will ultimately reduce the stress level in your life and feel a surge of increased confidence too!
