We've all been there, you're at a meeting, a friend invites you out, a fellow mom asks if you can be in charge of carpooling duties. You really don't have time for it, you also need to take care of your own business and family and yet, you say yes. Why? Are women programmed to say yes? We’re here to tell you not only is it ok to say no, it’s essential if you want to be successful in both roles. No, is a complete sentence and we’re going to dive right into why. 

When you say no you are saying yes

Saying no can be difficult, especially if you're a people pleaser. But it's important to remember that you can't do everything. You have to prioritize your time and energy in order to be successful. When you say no to an obligation, you're saying yes to something else (read that again). Whether it's your business, your family, or your own wellbeing, you have to put yourself first.

Be strong, you can do this

There will always be people who try to take advantage of your generosity. But you have to be strong and stand up for yourself. It might take practice to say no but remember, no is a complete sentence. As women we are often masters at finding reasons to say yes and if we do say no it is usually followed by feelings of guilt and a myriad of excuses. The truth is, you don't owe anyone an explanation or apology for saying no. Just politely decline and move on.

Saying no sets boundaries 

Setting boundaries can be a whole blog post in itself (stay tuned). Setting boundaries can help you feel more in control of your day-to-day life. When we say no to things, it gives us the opportunity for self-care and relaxation that may be lacking otherwise with all those commitments on our plate! When we say yes to everything without setting any limits with other people or situations our stress levels can skyrocket and nobody benefits. 

You are not responsible for other’s feelings

It can be a difficult concept to embrace but you are not responsible for other people’s feelings. It's more important to be true and honest with yourself, so you can please the right person- which will make your life much better! There are two types of fear when it comes down to deciding whether or not something should happen: the first is that we might disappoint someone by saying "no," while another major concern many individuals have is being seen as mean/ungrateful. We're always looking out for what everybody else wants instead of our own needs. 

Successful people say “no” 

Honor your truth. You can't afford to keep saying yes when it comes at the expense of productivity and mental health, which will only get worse if you continue down this path without adapting accordingly with some new habits or practices in place that promote healthy living for both our physical well-being as well as spiritual growth. We all have different ways about how we need/want success but ultimately what matters most is whether these actions align closer towards who are true selves instead of making excuses. Say “no” point blank and leave it at that.