Editor's choice

#FreshTake: It is ok to say no

If you're basing your decision whether to say yes or to say no on the fact that you care about what other people will say, stop

Human nature makes us want to please people. If we say “no” we are in danger of seeming mean, negative, or unhelpful!

The last thing we want to do is make someone hurt or angry and be looked at with judging eyes, so we say yes when we really want to say no. Agreeing to things you don’t want to do can stress you out! It is selfish and it’s definitely not good for your mental, physical and spiritual health!

Start and end your statement with a positive: Before you come right out and say no, add in a positive statement. It helps take the focus off of the “no”. Starting and ending with a positive can sound like “I’d really love to do this, but I just can’t right now. Keep me in mind next time!”

Don’t answer right away: Before you answer, let the person know you will get back to them. Take some time to think about your response to the request. A lot of times we say yes because we are caught up in the moment and want to please them, but by taking a moment to think things through, you can figure out how to respond without offending them or committing to something you don’t want to do.

Just say no: A simple no is a way to firmly get your point across. Don’t get caught up in trying not to disappoint someone. Being prepared can help you deliver your answer in a positive way that helps the receiver not feel offended or negative.
Next time someone approaches you and asks you to do something you aren’t too keen on, be confident, positive, and polite with your “no”!
It will go a long way.

You can never control everybody’s opinion of you: Whatever you do, whatever you say, and people will judge you either fairly or harshly. Don’t let it ruin your day. If you’re basing your decision whether to say yes or to say no on the fact that you care about what other people will say, stop. It’s not worth all the trouble.

Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

At Caxton, every story is written by humans. We use AI only to perform quality checks - never to generate the news. Happy reading!

Support local journalism

Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Northern Natal News in Google News and Top Stories.

Sihle Ntenjwa

A journalist at Caxton Local Media, contributing to Estcourt and Midlands News. Passionate and dedicated to his craft, Sihle has quickly made a name for himself since arriving in Estcourt in late 2023. His commitment to storytelling and community journalism has earned him recognition for keeping readers informed with compelling and accurate local news

Related Articles

Back to top button