This two letter word is on of the reasons we prevent ourselves from accomplishing our goals. I hear this daily, “I didn’t have the time.” You have the time, time is what you make it. So really you should be responding with, “It wasn’t a priority.” Then you are being honest with yourself, and honesty can make or break your goal setting. A lot of times the reason why we feel like we don’t have the time, comes down to poor time management, prioritization and that two letter word, NO!
In the years that I have been training I have met some incredible people, people who tend to put themselves last which creates inconsistency and then frustration for not seeing and feeling their results. I hear about how unhappy they are but with one little two letter word, they can find happiness. Learning to say NO can change your world.
Follow these the next time you are in a situation where you really should just say NO!
Keep your response simple. If you want to say no, be firm and direct. Use phrases such as “Thanks for coming to me but I’m afraid it’s not convenient right now” or “I’m sorry but I can’t help this evening.” Try to be strong in your body language and don’t over-apologize. Remember, you’re not asking permission to say no.
Buy yourself some time. Interrupt the ‘yes’ cycle, using phrases like “I’ll get back to you,” then consider your options. Having thought it through at your leisure, you’ll be able to say no with greater confidence.
Consider a compromise. Only do so if you want to agree with the request, but have limited time or ability to do so. Suggest ways forward to suit both of you. Avoid compromising if you really want or need to say no.
Separate refusal from rejection. Remember you’re turning down a request, not a person. People usually will understand that it is your right to say no, just as it is their right to ask the favor.
Don’t feel guilty for saying no to your children. It is important for them to hear no from time to time so that they develop a sense of self-control. It is hard to negotiate adult life without this important skill. Rather than cave in to their protests, let them know who is in charge by setting boundaries.
Be true to yourself. Be clear and honest with yourself about what you truly want. Get to know yourself better and examine what you really want from life.
Reference: https://psychcentral.com/lib/learning-to-say-no/