Saying NO has often a bad reputation, even if I consider being able to say NO as one of the most important life skills ever.
Saying NO is not about closing off, being rude, or acting like a poor sport. It is actually about setting healthy boundaries and creating a safe space for ourselves.
It should not feel difficult. It should not feel scary. It should don't feel dangerous.
[After replying to this question,
you could reflect on how saying NO
and being able to say NO made you feel]
Saying NO should actually feel like being free and light at once, like how it feels letting go of a heavy and itchy winter jacket in order to put on the spring clothes and go out in the sun.
While learning how to set better boundaries, we can start small and improve over time while practicing.
It is indeed one of those activities where practice makes perfect and the chances are countless: Saying NO to unreasonable expectations, saying NO to a last-minute request for something that can definitely wait, saying NO to someone's bossy attitude, saying NO to...
Finding one occasion a day to say NO to something small could become an interesting game.
Coaching question of the day:
"What did you say NO to today?"
This one is for Tania.
Tags: Coaching question, Self-coaching, Self-awareness, Self-reflection, Saying no, Growth mindset, Setting boundaries
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