The Ultimate Guide to Saying No, and Meaning It

You say “yes” more than you know.

Yes, you’ll help your friend with their business proposal.

Yes, you’ll dedicate your weekend to helping a family member finish that project they’ve been dragging their heels on forever.

Yes, yes, yes — you say it so much that it seems like favors and promises have eaten up any free time that you had meant to save for your own projects and relaxation. It’s exhausting and, if you sacrifice all of your free time, unhealthy!

Here’s a radical idea: say no.

Say no to overextending yourself, no to taking on someone else’s pet project, and no to giving up every evening and weekend! Saying no doesn’t make you selfish — it means that you’re taking care of yourself. You can only support others if you know when to step away and look after your own well-being. There are not enough hours in the day for you to say “yes” all the time and still have the energy to pursue the goals that are important to you.

This week, I want to walk you through when, how, and why you should say no to someone who asks for a little (or far too much!) of your time.

Your time is valuable. Let’s start figuring out how you can reclaim it.

Every A-Lister has a story to share. It would mean the world to me if you would take just a few minutes to tell a little of yours in the comments below. For example — think back on a time when you should have said “no,” but didn’t. How would you approach the situation if it occurred again today?

I hope you’ll share. Who knows — your experience might just be what gives another A-Lister the inspiration they need to evolve into their ideal future self. After you comment, share this article on social media to build our community and draw more creative minds into the conversation!

As a quick reminder, please do not post links to other posts, sites, or videos in the comments section unless they apply to the conversation. They tend to look spammy and stop others from sharing their experiences.

Thank you for weaving your journey with mine. The creativity, thoughtfulness, and positivity of our A-Lister community is a constant inspiration for me, and I hope for you as well!

Let’s keep the conversation going.

♥

Coach Amina Z