Know when to say “no”
by Melody Beattie
Saying “no” is another way of saying “when”. For some of us, the hardest word in the language to speak is the short, simple word “no”. Instead of saying no, we toil on. âWhat will he think if I say no? Mary wonât be my friend if I donât do this. The project wonât get done unless I do it. Iâm not a team player when I say no. A good Christian needs to sacrifice himself. Saying no is selfish.â And the list goes on. We abuse ourselves, take on more than we want, and find ourselves bitter and resentful. And weâve done it to ourselves.
Know your limits. Know when to say “no”. There may be a few people who are offended by the limits that you set, but usually those are the ones trying to control or manipulate you. Some well-meaning colleagues may tell you that youâre being selfish, but your ultimate responsibility is to yourself. That responsibility includes knowing how and when to set limits.
Look at your schedule. Are you so overloaded or booked that you canât see when you could have any time for fun, relaxing, or your own personal growth? It may be time for you to start setting limits. Remember, you get to decide whatâs best for you.
Learn to say “no” and stand by your choice.
Prayer:
God, help me to have the strength to set reasonable limits for myself and to tell others when I cannot help them. Help me learn to say “no”.
Remember, self-care means saying ânoâ or âenoughâ. Have a blessed day, everyone!
Doc