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Sick of Saying Yes When You Mean No? - SW

By on August 1, 2015
Yes when you mean no!

By Kate Northup

Since being pregnant my internal “no’s” and “yes’s” have gotten significantly louder. Waffling barely exists anymore. I’m not trying to talk myself into things I don’t really want to do. The boundaries are loud, proud, and clear.

I thought I was getting pretty good at saying no before getting pregnant. But the clarity I have now around what’s good for me, my body, the baby, and our family makes my previous version of boundaries look like chalk lines on the sidewalk after a rainstorm.

One of my desires/intentions is that the volume of my “no” and “yes” stay turned up to the same level after the baby is out. I love knowing what I do and don’t want to do beyond a shadow of a doubt. And I love feeling less guilty about it than I ever have before.

I know that we all have this clarity inside us. While pregnancy might make it more pronounced, listening intently and acting accordingly can also make the internal voice louder. Pay special attention to that acting accordingly part. Listening to the truth that bubbles up inside and then ignoring it is a good start, but it won’t produce the long-term, life-lived-on-purpose-and-amazingly-well benefits that you’re after.

For me, saying yes has never been a stretch. It’s the “no’s” that have tripped me up.

If you’re a recovering “yes-aholic,” too, read on.

Here are my go-to strategies for saying a clear “no,” which is a gift to you and those around you. Because remember:

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Don’t Say You’ll Do Things that You’re Not Going to Do

A woman walked up to me and asked me if I would review some of her work to give her my feedback. She was delightful, and I’m sure the piece she wanted my eye on was equally wonderful. However, I knew it would sit in my inbox, and I would delay looking at it. And it would bug me. And cause mental friction. And after all the delaying and hemming and hawing, if I did get around to reviewing it, I wouldn’t give it my best attention.

Why? Because it’s not a priority for me. Because I have several of my own projects that I’d like to finish before the baby comes. Because it felt like a no. (By the way, something feeling like a no is reason enough. Those other justifications are nice if they’re true, but they’re not necessary.)

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In the past I would have told her to email me and I’d see what I could do. Then I might have let her down over email.

Instead, I told her the truth in real time. I said that, while I loved what she was up to, I didn’t want to tell her I would do something that I know deep down isn’t a priority for me right now. It felt uncomfortable to say, but it felt freeing, too. We both knew where we stood. I wished her the best and gave her some other resources she might find helpful.

Take home message: if someone asks you to do something and you immediately know that you won’t, don’t say that you will. It doesn’t serve you and it doesn’t serve them. Keep it clean, people.

There’s No Need to Give a Reason

Your no does not require justification. Here’s a great sentence you can use, inspired by my friend Andrea Equihua:

“Thank you for your invitation/offer/request. I’m not able to do it at this time, but if that changes, I’ll let you know.”

Gracious. Kind. Simple. Clear. Non-apologetic.

You don’t have to apologize for not being able to fit into someone else’s agenda. You don’t have to give 57 reasons why it doesn’t work. You can be kind while still giving a simple no.

Give Yourself Time

There are moments when someone asks you to do something, and you don’t know whether or not you can or want to.

There are also moments when you’re caught off guard when someone asks you to do something in person, and a direct “no” feels like too much of a stretch. (This is often the case when your “no” muscles are still developing.)

These are moments when asking for 48 hours to get back to the person is ideal.

They feel acknowledged. You don’t feel cornered.

Then you can give yourself a moment to check in while you’re not in their presence and see if you get a clear internal message.

You can also take the time to compose a response that’s respectful, kind, and clear if it is indeed a no. When you’re just starting out practicing saying no, coming up with this kind of response in the moment can be quite challenging. Giving yourself a day or two helps you get your wits about you.

If It’s Not a Hell Yes…

You’ve likely heard this one before, but it’s one I remind myself of nearly daily, so it’s worth repeating.

If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.

That’s it. It works the same on choosing where to eat dinner as it does who you’re going to marry.

The Gift of Your No

The gift of your no is that everyone in your life knows that when you do say yes, it’s real. They know where they stand with you. It puts everyone at ease.

And you honoring your “yes’s” and your “no’s” means that you get to trust yourself more and more, each and every day. Since you’re the only one you’ll be spending your entire life with, that’s a pretty big deal.

May we all have the cojones to say no when we mean no and yes when we mean yes. And may we all have the courage to keep the volume turned up on that voice that always knows. It serves us, and it sure serves the world.

Over to You:

Have you ever said yes when you really meant no? What did it feel like? What are your “saying no” strategies? This is a growth edge for me and many in our community, so please share your best tips in the comments below!

 

 

kateKate Northrup is a professional freedom seeker and creative entrepreneur. She created financial freedom for herself at the age of 28 through building a team of more than 1,000 wellness entrepreneurs in the network marketing industry. Her philosophy is that if you free yourself financially you can be fully present to your purpose on the planet. Her first book, Money: A Love Story with Hay House is NOW AVAILABLE! She continues to mentor entrepreneurs in creating financial freedom. Find out more and take her free quiz to find out what your relationship with money says about you at http://www.katenorthrup.com.

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