Perfecting No

If you’ve ever been on an airplane you’ve heard flight attendants say the following: “Put your mask on first before helping those around you.” They are referring to oxygen masks deploying in the event of a pressurization problem of some kind. An unlikely scenario, however the advice is sound and translates well to life on the ground. We have to take care of ourselves before we can help others. We won’t be much help to anyone if we drop dead from exhaustion or have a mental break down due to stress.

We want to be everything to everyone. We want to be liked. We often put everyone else’s needs before our own. Saying yes is easy. Saying no is a skill that I’ve been working on, trying to perfect.

Some things I’ve realized in the process of perfecting no: 

• No is freeing. I wish I had learned the power of no when my children were young. I wouldn’t have given away so much of the time I could have spent with them. 

• No is kind. There is no false hope associated with saying no. 

• No is a complete sentence. No requires no explanation. Rather than trying to come up with an excuse that might be hurtful, or might be awkward, just say no.

• No gets easier with practice

• No allows you to prioritize what’s important to you, as opposed to what’s important to others.

• No is brave. A coward says maybe when he means no.

I highly recommend you give yourself permission to say no, however as with everything, there are two sides to this story. There is a time to say yes: 

• Say yes to adventure

• Say yes to possibilities for yourself and your children 

• Say yes to dessert. 

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The Daily Post, December 7, 2015, Daily Prompt: Sorry, I’m Busy~ Tell us about a time when you should have helped someone… but didn’t.<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/sorry-im-busy/”>Sorry, I’m Busy</a>