Saying no to things takes practice. If you’re like me and hate upsetting people saying no is difficult. It took me a long time to realize that saying yes when I wanted to say no was worse than saying no from the start.

How to Say No or yes

• Take a minute to think it through before you answer. Don’t just automatically say yes or no.
• When the answer is yes or no, don’t try to explain, just answer.
• Be honest if the other person asks why you said yes or no.
• When you say no, mean it.
• Don’t say yes when you want to say no.

We all have our own values and beliefs about right and wrong. We try to live according to these values. Yes, you should always be kind. You might think that it’s not nice to say no. However, this is a flawed and distorted view of what being nice means. There’s a difference between kindness and being a pushover. When the answer is no, that doesn’t mean you stop being considerate.

There is a difference between being honestly assertive and being aggressive. Giving an honest answer of no is not being rude. When someone asks you for something, they should know that there’s a possibility you will say no. Be honest, and they should have no reason to be offended.

If the other human is offended, that is their problem. You do not control their feelings. Remain kind and love them despite their reaction to your honest no.

Love & Light,

Lori