|
The Power of NO!
How often do you go along with people and situations where you would just as soon decline? Do you ever find yourself saying yes or no at times when you would like to say the opposite? As you begin to play with the following exercises become more comfortable with claiming your time and space, you'll reclaim a great deal more of it in your life and get better at establishing boundaries. At the same time, you'll get better at stepping outside of, and expanding upon your comfort zone. 1. Find 5-to-10 places where you usually say yes even though you don't want to, and say no instead. This will help you develop the ability to do so and create flexibility with this concept. 2. Find 5-to-10 places where you usually say no, and challenge yourself to say yes. (Begin by finding situations that don't place too much at stake. This will help you build confidence in this endeavor. This is a skill that develops over time.) 3. When saying no, get in the habit of offering no explanation. People in contemporary society feel that it is everyone's right to know why they do what they do. This is a myth, and typically an invasion of boundaries. You do what you do because you do what you do. Your actions are an expression of who you are. That's it. 4. If you're in the habit of explaining yourself when you don't go along with someone, simply stay silent. If you are asked why, say no again and nothing more. If this is a challenge, notice if you usually offer an explanation when agreeing with someone. Take note of your internal reaction to the silence that is there when you don't offer an explanation.
|