The Art of Saying "No"

I remember the days when I suffered from the lack of ability to say no. I just couldn’t refuse whether it was a call for help, an invitation, or a request to borrow something. I felt compelled to give in because honestly, who doesn’t want to be in everyone’s good books and be praised? This compulsion to pleasing people often landed me in uncomfortable situations.
I am sure I’m not alone in this. Many people out there often find themselves in situations where they desperately want to refuse but they don’t. The major reason is that because we do not want to risk our relationship with people and disappoint them. And also because we fear missing out on experiences and fun.

Why?

We all need to understand that it is our life and we need to take control of it to avoid unfortunate circumstances. Not only this but saying no also helps in setting healthy boundaries. It clarifies to people what to expect from us. Moreover, it would save us from a lot of unnecessary hassle. According to research at the University of California, when a person faces difficulty in saying no, it causes over commitment. This leads to pressure which eventually causes depression, burnout, and stress. These are major hindrances to one’s growth of emotional intelligence. Thus, learn to stand for yourself for your own health.

How?                                                                                                        

Now comes the technical part, how to refuse? It just requires adopting a few tips and some practice.
1.     Sort out your priorities so that when someone asks something of you, check to see if it will serve any of the purposes, you decided you wanted to put your time and energy towards.

2.   Start with refusing indirectly, through polite words.

3.   Be assertive and confident while refusing. Don’t give in to their manipulative tactics.

4.    Offer conditional agreements which will compel the others to prioritize. This tip will be helpful in workplaces saving you from some unpleasant exchanges.
 
Adopting these practices will help you to avoid tight spots by not agreeing to unnecessary arrangements. Eventually, you will get the flow. I hope this article helped because when you refuse people, you are not disappointing them. Actually, you are saving yourself from being taken advantage of. And I think in a world like today, we all can learn a little of that.

 Resources:

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