{"id":24922,"date":"2022-02-04T03:00:33","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T11:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=24922"},"modified":"2022-11-03T15:17:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T22:17:32","slug":"the-power-of-no-by-lisa-towles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/04\/the-power-of-no-by-lisa-towles\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of No by Lisa Towles"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back Lisa Towles<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cThe Power of No.\u201d \u00a0Enjoy!<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The word no <\/i>in <\/strong>the English language has many nuances<\/strong>, forms, and connotations, and its grammatical classification is even more nebulous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In speech and interpersonal communication, it can be descriptive or emphatic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Parenting<\/strong>, it\u2019s a bold line in the sand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most interesting to me is h<\/span>ow <\/span>no <\/span><\/i>is u<\/span>sed (or unused) in the parameters we set for our lives. Too much or the wrong kind can be viewed as obstructionist, even aggressive. And not enough of it has a different kind of imbalance.<\/span><\/p>\n

No<\/i> was the fi<\/strong>rst word I ever spoke out loud<\/strong>, but this doesn\u2019t necessarily mean I use it skillfully every time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have good boundaries, but at times they\u2019re too fluid, and I sometimes say yes when I mean no. The hazards, of course, are the stress and burnout that can result from being overcommitted. But looking deeper, a lack of boundaries can bring unhealthy relationships with others taking advantage of you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So a <\/span>new self-care practice I\u2019m working on is doing a better job of <\/span>managing my Yes\u2019s and No\u2019s<\/b>. By doing this, I\u2019m creating more time and space for the things I want to work on, and cultivating healthier relationships in my life. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Saying yes <\/i>fee<\/strong>ls good because it\u2019s an empowering<\/strong>, affirmative word evoking happiness, relief, acceptance, even praise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou did <\/span>all that<\/span><\/i> and ahead of schedule? You\u2019re amazing!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who doesn\u2019t want to hear that at the end of a project?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"High<\/a><\/p>\n

The question is: What activities did you set aside to meet that deadline?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Chronically sayin<\/span>g <\/span>yes<\/span><\/i> impl<\/span>ies people-pleasing, fear of consequences, and an unwillingness to disappoint people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course no one wants to disappoint people.<\/strong> At some point, though, we realize that the core truths we\u2019ve been ignoring demand to be heard and acknowledged. That\u2019s when it\u2019s time to get real about what we want and what we don\u2019t want.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what are our options?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/b>The Power of No\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

While sayi<\/span>ng <\/span>yes <\/span><\/i>mig<\/span>ht insulate us from judgment or harsh scrutiny, the NO switch comes with some potential risks as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It also comes with many rewards<\/strong>, such as increased confidence, improved self-esteem, and a stronger sense of self. If you\u2019re willing to say no and disappoint people to let your authentic self shine, what other risks will you be willing to take?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some ideas for getting more comfortable with your <\/span>no<\/span><\/i>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n