Why You Should Say ‘No’ to Almost Everything.

‘Yes’ can be a lot of work. We all do it – we say ‘Yes’ because it is easier. We say ‘Yes’ because we like the feeling of being needed or wanted or busy or liked. If ‘Yes’ has become your default setting and you have had enough, I am here to offer a simple solution.

Say ‘No’ to almost everything.

Say ‘No’ to the stuff you don’t want to do. Say ‘No’ to the cheerful exploitation of others who ask more and more of you. Say ‘No’ to anything that goes against your beliefs and say ‘No’ to anything that will steer you off course. Say it kindly. Say it Firmly. Say it without feeling like a bitch.

How can we be certain we are saying ‘No’ to the right things? Derek Sivers, writer and entrepreneur, says the answer to that is easy;

‘When deciding whether to do something, if you feel anything less than “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” – then say, “no”.’

Let’s be honest, I am not exactly saying ‘Hell yeah’ to every part of my life. ‘Mum – can you collect me from school at 3.30?’ Hell yeah! ‘Darling, could you pull that weird hair off my ear?’ Hell yeah! But you get the idea. As Derek says ‘We’re all busy. We’ve all taken on too much. Saying yes to less is the way out.’

Before you all head off in to your day blowing off every damn thing you don’t really fancy doing, there are a few occasions when ‘No’ is ill advised. Don’t let fear be your ‘No’. Don’t say ‘No’ if you are just trying to stay in your comfort zone or are scared you might do something wrong or not be good enough. Saying ‘Yes’ supports courage, risk taking and being open to life’s opportunities but choose your ‘Yes’ wisely then you can happily say ‘No’ to everything else.

And remember ‘No’ can often be confused with negativity but in fact it is quite the reverse. Saying ‘No’ allows you to say ‘Yes’.

This Get Happier Post is brought to you by someone who prefers to politely decline via email.