Yesterday I was reading Robin Sharma’s “The greatness guide”. I have read many times the importance of learning to say “No” and there was another chapter on the same subject. The theme line was:
“Every time you say yes to something that is unimportant, you say no to something that is important.”
Robin Sharma
This is so true.
In this busy world, everyone is short of time. If you don’t use your time for your priorities, someone else will use it for their own priorities. Do you try to do everything told by others? When we try to do all the things we often miss some important things. Even sometimes we mess up all the things.
Be Authentic
It is alright to help someone who really needs your help and you can help. But if there is a thing someone expects from you and you don’t feel it right; Learn to Say No. Be Honest to yourself. People will respect a lot if you are true to yourself.
“Learning to say ‘no’ will make your ‘yes’ more meaningful.”
Unknown
Why it is hard to say No:
We often think that we have to please everyone to get going. We fear that if we say “No” to someone what he will think. We think, maybe I will need him in the future, so I should not reject him. Sometimes we agreed to do a job because we think it could be last opportunity even if we don’t like it much. Sometimes we say “yes” to a relationship just because everyone else thinks it would work great. Sometimes we keep going in a relationship we don’t like just because of the sake of others. I believe if you are not happy, you cannot make others happy.
Sometimes we just keep doing things to keep us busy. But just being busy does not mean you are doing worth things.
How to say No
Remember, there will always be enough expectations from people around you. If you want to fulfil them, just keep doing this all your life. But In the end, please don’t make excuse that you did not do anything for yourself. There was always a choice. You don’t have to sacrifice all your life for others. God has sent you to do the things you actually love. So Learn to say “No” at right time.
“Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.”
Josh Billings
When to say No
- Say No to Negativity: There is all kind of people around us. You know most of them are full of negativity. If they criticize others in front of you, chances are they criticize others in front of others. Sometimes even they keep talking negative about things you do just because they do not like it. Keep distance with them as possible. We consciously or unconsciously get affected by our surroundings. We start believing things what others say about us. So say “No” whenever they ask you to go for a walk.
- Say No to Social Media when you have important things pending to do: Today social media like Facebook, Twitter are consuming a lot of our valuable time. Once we start spending time on these, we often end up wasting more time than what we think. That way, you give your valuable time to these things while there are other important things pending to do. So Say “No” to your temptation.
- Say No to a Friend who just wants to gossip: Yeah! I know you like to gossip. Everyone likes to talk about others. But there should be a limit. Do you more concern about other’s life than yours. No, Right. So take care when you know it is exceeding a limit to gossip about others. Learn to say No who wants to go to coffee with you and gossip all the time. Life is passing day by day doing gossip you know.
- Say No to things if your heart is not agreed: You are the one who knows what you want from life. When life offer you something you don’t like, Say No. Pursue in relationships you love. Make friends as you like. Do business you love. Join a Club you like. Always listen to your heart and Learn to Say No to what is not true by your heart.
“Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.”
John C. Maxwell
