In a world that often equates busyness with worth and selflessness with virtue, saying “no” can feel like a radical act.
But what if it’s not radical at all, just necessary? It’s about recognizing that your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth are finite, and worthy of protection.
Every time you say “yes” out of obligation or guilt, you’re with-drawing from an internal bank account that, if ignored, will eventually run dry.
Learning to say “no” is about honoring your limits, not out of selfishness, but out of self-respect.
THE CONDITIONING WE CARRY
For many of us, “no” was never presented as a valid option. We’ve been conditioned, often from a young age, to associate saying no with rejection, failure, or guilt. To say yes is to be helpful, kind, agreeable.…