by Anastasia Fermin, Sunshima blog writer
Have you ever been faced with a situation in which you said yes, but you really felt like saying no? And the reason why you said yes was that you didn’t want to disappoint the other person or cause any tension? Maybe it felt like the polite thing to do, especially when someone asks for help or a favour? Saying yes can have many positive impacts on your life, but sometimes, it isn’t always in your best interest. Saying no has always been seen in a negative light but in practice, it can actually lead to many positives. Here’s why you should consider the power of no.
It establishes healthy boundaries
Saying yes to others while neglecting your own needs isn’t a healthy route to take. It may also make it easier for people to take advantage of you or assume you will always be available to them. When faced with a request, if you aren’t willing to accept it or you do not have the energy, resources, or time to facilitate it, just say no. It allows you to be more assertive, sure of yourself, and gain respect from your peers. This will then act as a filter to requests from others and you may then receive proposals that are more meaningful or relevant to you.
Saying No helps you focus
Saying no to things that do not enrich your life or contribute to your goals gives you room to focus on what matters. It saves you time and effort which can be funnelled into working on yourself and your goals. For example, saying no to a night of drinking and partying with friends when you have an important interview the next day gives you time to prepare yourself. It shows initiative and if your friends truly support you they won’t be disappointed if you decline the offer.
No can lead to yes
You can actually open up opportunities to say yes to things that are aligned with your personality, needs, and goals when you say no. When you are firm in your decisions and say no to the things that lead you off your path or do not have any place in your life, you can then say yes to what really matters to you.
Saying No makes you happier
When you say no to things that drain you, make you stressed or cause negative impacts on your health and well-being, you can improve your life. This goes for both work and your personal life. You have the power to choose what’s best for you and that doesn’t mean you are being selfish. It’s ok to say no when you know saying yes will have a negative impact on you. This takes a lot of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt away to make room for a more positive mindset.
When people realise that you are building and growing in your life, they too can be inspired to make a change. All it takes is the power of saying no and being true to yourself