Saying yes to everything can seem like a great idea – but it can quickly become a very big problem! Why do so many of us say yes when we want to say no? The disease to please. We want people to like us, so we often take on far more than we should, saying yes to increasing obligations when our plates are already overloaded. But saying no nicely isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength! Here’s why you should learn how to say no and smile:
It means you value yourself
When you learn to say no, you start to value yourself. Whether it’s a personal lunch you can’t make or a professional event that you simply don’t have time for, practice saying out loud that you won’t be able to because you’re already so overcommitted that you need to take things off your schedule. The fact is, you have to say no to some things because you can’t say yes to everything. As Cicero once said, “You will be as much value to others as you have been to yourself,” so start valuing yourself by saying no.
It allows you to control your energy
We all only have so much energy – it’s a valuable resource that we can’t squander and must distribute wisely. As author T. Harv Eker once said, “Where attention goes, energy flows and results show.” When you say no and smile, you can control your limited energy and use it far more productively. Because you’re not spread as thinly, you’ll have more time to think, create and truly commit to what you’re passionate about.
It creates a more definitive person
When you constantly say yes to what other people want, you have to be careful you’re not saying no to what you want. Saying no doesn’t mean you’re being rude – it simply means you’re allowing yourself to focus on achieving your goals while you strengthen and define your character. Saying no is necessary for the good life – and absolutely vital for success. As Warren Buffet once said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
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