Whether it’s taking on more work than you can handle or agreeing to plans you don’t want to attend, we’ve all pushed ourselves past our limits merely to avoid rejection, failure, and missing out.
For some adults, the inability to say no stems from the way they were brought up where they were taught that saying no was interpreted as a form of backtalk. This in adulthood translates to communication problems, self-doubt, and the need to ‘fit in’ to avoid disappointing others.
But is it likely that our desire for acceptance can work against us?
Let’s find out.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SAY NO
Saying no keeps our strength of character intact and paves way for holistic wellness, whether it’s for physical, intellectual, or psychological wellness. You’re not required to give someone an explanation for your refusal. In fact, simply saying no and not going into greater explanation can sometimes help you appear calmer and more confident.
Here are some reasons as to why denial is important-
1. Do less to deliver more: Don’t be a jack of all trades, be a master of one. Avoid overwhelming yourself with various tasks and focus on one to deliver the best results.
2. Prevent burnouts: Physical and mental exhaustion is the result of overworking oneself beyond their capacity to find a sense of belonging.
3. Jeopardizes personal goals: You can’t achieve your personal growth with minimal energy. Keep your dreams intact by taking care of your body & mind and by avoiding saying ‘yes’.
4. Reality check: Saying no to extra work when you know you need a break is a courageous act of self-care.
5. Step out of your comfort zone: When you routinely do things that are difficult, you’ll slowly build up the courage and confidence necessary to take on bigger obstacles in your life.
6. Letting your commitment slide: Don’t let your willingness to get involved and help others affect your own work and deadlines.
7. Taken for granted: There’s a big difference between having to say ‘no’ to someone’s request and being selfish. Don’t let your politeness have people get their things done by you.
8. Building strong relationships: You can keep the relationships in your life strong through setting boundaries and mutual respect.
HERE ARE 5 SIMPLE TIPS ON SAYING NO
1. Assess the request: Before jumping to the conclusion that you have to say “no”, ask for more information about the opportunity. Think about what’s on your plate, whether priorities can be shuffled. Don’t say no until you’re sure you need to.
2. Practice saying no: The more you say no, the simpler it becomes. Practice being assertive in all aspects of your life, until it becomes natural and easy.
3. Be straightforward and authentic: It could be more difficult for people to respect your choice to refuse if you are visually uncertain about it. Aim for simplicity and clarity.
4. Set boundaries: Make people aware of your likes and dislikes and the need for you to focus on things you want to.
5. Offer an alternative: If someone wants you to collaborate with them on a project, introduce them to someone else who might be interested.
Finally, it’s critical to understand that a lot of the elements that make it tough for us to say no (such as being disliked or upsetting the other person) are mostly in our head. Although there will always be one odd person who is extremely sensitive and reacts negatively to things, most well-adjusted people are accustomed to rejection.
So, challenge yourself to put yourself first, learn to say no and see how drastically your life changes.
*Content from WoW team
