It’s Okay to Say No.
First off, I am a people pleaser. I always want to please everyone no matter how I feel. When asked to do something, the first word out of my mouth is yes! I never say, let me think about it, because I say yes without thinking. I do not like to disappoint others and I do not like conflicts, so I say yes just to make everyone happy. The problem is, everyone is happy, but me.
I found myself always saying yes to harder and harder tasks. I found myself physically and emotionally exhausted because I was being pulled in a thousand directions. My family, friends and significant other expected me to say yes to them. I felt that no was not an option for me.
When I joined the yoga teacher training course, I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I have to take care of myself first before I can help or care for others. I learned that I come first, no one else, but myself. My physical and emotional well being is more important than pleasing others.
I decided I needed to say no or at least start. With the yoga teacher training course half way thru and New Year’s on my doorstep, I decided to make “no” the word of the year for myself. It was not easy at first, it was extremely hard. My family would ask me to do something, I responded with no. My friend told me where she and I were going to have lunch, I said “No, I do not like that place.” My life changed. It sounds like it was an easy decision, but it was not. By saying no when everyone expected me to say yes, my relationships began to shift. It was very difficult, it caused arguments and conflicts. It’s not my family or friends fault. I created relationships with them based on the word yes. I am the one who began to change, not them. It took time for everything to work out and some relationships were able to survive and some did not.
I am very thankful I added the word no into my vocabulary. It made me a stronger person and I really learned about my true self. For all those fellow people who say yes all the time, try to say no. It is hard at first, but it will be completely worth it in the end.
Namaste,
Kayla
Yoga Pose:
Stand hip width apart, root the feet down into the earth. Stand tall, lift up through the spine, drop the shoulders down and away from the ears. Take a few deep breaths. As you stand tall in Tadasana (Mountain) each breath gives you inner strength and confidence.