At times, there may be situations where you may feel compelled to say "Yes" to things, knowing deep in your heart that you want to say "No." So, you may go against your intuition and commit yourself and then "feel bad" for making a decision that is not in alignment with your values. You say yes to the happy hour, you say yes to hosting a gathering at your place, you say yes to the request to spearhead a new project at work, you say yes to a million other things and don't take notice that there is another option. There is another alternative to saying "Yes" that may be more in-tune with you. Although it may feel different and uncomfortable at first, you can give yourself permission to say, "No." You can start saying "no" to overcommitting yourself. You can say "no" to the requests from people who will drain you of your time and energy. You can begin to say "no" to things that go against your better intuition.

Giving yourself permission to say, "No" can cause people to feel angry, upset, disappointed and uncomfortable at times. However, it is a necessary exercise to say "no" to take care of yourself. Saying "no" is an intentional act that places your needs first. There are many individuals who have a difficult time putting themselves first. As such, they experience their own disappointment, depression, and feelings about going against their better intuition.

I implore and encourage you to begin saying "No." It is a radical act of courage. By saying "No" to over-commitment, people who will steal your time and energy, projects that don't inspire you; you will be saying "Yes" to a life that will be less stressful and more balanced.

Therefore, give it a shot. Take some practice. Go say "No" and feel free to comment on your experience(s)