Saying “No!” is one of the most important skills we can develop as human beings. It allows us to silence the noise so that we can focus on what matters. Saying “no” takes two different forms. The first form is saying “no” to others, the other is saying “no” to ourselves.
Saying “no” to others is easy when you don’t know or respect the other person. After all it wouldn’t be very wise to listen to or follow a stranger who you don’t respect. Some could argue that doing so would even be a bit dangerous. Saying “yes” to an individual is usually a sign of respect or trust. So how do we say no to someone we both trust and respect?
The short and simple answer to this question is over communication. It is important that the person you are denying knows the reason behind it. If you don’t take the time to share your reason for saying “no” they may end up thinking you don’t respect them or don’t trust them. Overcommunicating doesn’t only mean sharing why you don’t want to partake in a certain action, but it also means sharing your reasoning ahead of time.
We suggest you share your reasoning with people before they even make a request of you. This way people won’t be shocked when you don’t act as they request. Doing this makes you proactive. A proactive approach means you deny an offer before its even made.
In the world of weight-loss we can give you the example of attending a family members birthday party. Before you attend the event, you should let the host know that you are on a diet and will be brining your own meal replacements to enjoy. Be sure to say this politely and let the host know you appreciate their support in your decisions. Doing this will help the host know what to expect upon your arrival. Your discipline and self-sacrifice will be noticed and admired by the other guests of the party. Furthermore your host won’t expect you to eat the same food as everybody else.
Bringing your own form of meal replacements to a family birthday party is also an example of saying “no” to yourself. You are saying “no” to your old habits so you leave room to build new ones. Your actions will not only lead you to better health but will also inspire others to live as mindful as yourself.
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