Mastering the art of saying NO

In a world constantly urging us to do more, saying NO is a powerful skill to have!

TODAY’s TOPIC

• What does it mean to say NO without guilt

• Why do women struggle to say NO

• Where to start

WHAT

Saying NO without guilt means setting boundaries confidently & prioritizing your own needs without feeling bad about it.

Key aspects of this are:

• Self respect & confidence

• Understanding your limits

• Healthy boundaries

WHY

So why do most women struggle?

Here are some key reasons:

1. Social conditioning: 

   From a young age, women are taught to be agreeable, accommodating & nurturing. The ‘good girl’ act leads to prioritizing others needs over their own.

2. Internalized expectations:

   There is often an internal pressure to meet societal expectations of being a “good” woman, which includes being helpful & self sacrificing.

3. Avoiding conflict:

   Women afraid of being perceived as rude, uncooperative or unfriendly, prefer to avoid confrontation that may stem from saying NO.

WHERE TO START

Saying NO kindly can be challenging, no doubt, but it’s an important skill to maintain healthy boundaries.

Here are few tips to get you started:

1. Be direct & clear: Instead of saying ‘maybe’, or ‘I’ll think about it’, be straightforward. For example, “I’m sorry, but I can’t commit to this right now.”

2. Offer an alternative: If possible, suggest an alternate way to help. For example, “I can’t help with this project, but X might be interested.”

3. Express gratitude: Start by thanking the person for considering you. For example, “Thank you for thinking of me, but I have to decline as I have other commitments.”

Remember, by saying NO you are making room for things that are important to you!

Until next week,

Jaspreet