Why Say NO is important – Daniela Angeloni

Why Saying NO is Important

When someone invites you to go somewhere or asks you for a favor, do you immediately say “I’d love to!” or “sounds great” without even mentally processing the request? If so, then you certainly are not the only one.

While growing up most people unknowing become people-pleasers. They automatically say yes, even when they actually intended to say no. That’s not entirely that individual’s fault though. We and the people around us have established the message that being a good partner/employee/ friend/neighbor/parent means always saying yes. Whereas, to be able to say “no” is important to feel empowered and build more authentic relationships.

Saying "NO" for a Better "YES"

If you are nurturing and empathetic, it is normal that you have a hard time saying no. However, there are some reasons why you need to start practicing to say no for a better yes.

Think about it this way, every time you are saying “no” to something less important, you are saying “yes” to other priorities like your work, studies, relationships, and resources, etc.

On the other hand, if you struggle to say “no”, the following can happen —

Other peoples’ work and priorities will gradually take precedence over yours.
You might have some mere acquaintances who will crowd out your time with family, friends, and close ones.
You will not have enough time to rest or to do the things you love.
You will end up frustrated
You won’t be able to say yes to other more important things.

Why Saying NO Is Important

Saying “yes” can have some short-term impact on your career or professional growth. But, learning to say “no” to things that are not of real value to you – is one of the most powerful steps you can take towards personal growth.

The following are some more reasons why saying “NO” is important —

1. Prioritise your feelings and needs

The most important person in your life is none other than yourself.

While prioritizing yourself over someone you care about might sound selfish, but you deserve to fulfill your own needs first.

To be able to offer your time and care to other people, make sure that your needs are met. One cannot take good care of others if s/he doesn’t take care of themselves.

By saying no, you will create healthy boundaries in your relationship which will help you to continue care for others, without losing yourself in the process.

2. Saying No Is a Sign of Confidence and Respect

Saying “no” doesn’t always mean that you are being disrespectful or rude. Rather it shows that you are confident about your life decisions and you know how to respect other’s choices without ignoring your own priorities.

3. Builds Healthy Relationships

You might feel like you are letting others down by saying “No”.

But sometimes because of your constant “yes”, other people start taking you for granted and stop respecting your time and effort.

So it is always better to set certain boundaries and maintain clarity in relationships.

4. Unplug Stress and Overwhelm

Most of the stress we experience comes from overcommitting and agreeing to things half-heartedly. If you can manage to say “no” to things that are not within your limits of time and energy, you can keep your commitment as well as manage your stress better.

Overall, saying “No” enables you to be more honest and authentic with the People around you. When you will start converting your “yes” to “no”, your close ones will also learn to respect that rather than taking you for granted.