The Power of \"No\"

Familiar?

I bet. There are a lot of us out there.

Saying no is a process that takes practice, and saying no in a way that leaves the doors open for future considerations takes even more practice. However, if you want to achieve your goals and have a thriving life, saying "no" at times is a must.

The topic of boundaries and saying no continually comes up with clients and events. Just this week, during a speaking engagement, I was asked about how to say no to a superior (Supervisor, Manager, boss's boss, etc.)

There are many ways to say no in a way that honors yourself and respectfully honors the requestor's consideration. I call it: "The art of skillfully saying no." Your answer can include elements such as time management or that the request is not part of your expertise.

Today, I am still a work in progress but, I can honestly say that I am much better at communicating my firm boundaries than at any other time in my life. As a result, my workload is what I decide it has to be in order to achieve what I intend.

The next time that someone asks for something, I want you to consider this:

• Your decision will create a precedent for other requests.

• You shouldn't jeopardize your goals.

• Your well-being should be a non-negotiable.

Ultimately, only you can determine whether you say yes or no to upcoming requests. One thing to remember is that every time you sacrifice your happiness/wellbeing for the happiness/wellbeing of others, you create a safe container for others to avoid taking responsibility for themselves, all while chipping away from progressing towards becoming the best version of yourself.

With love,