Hence, my urge to stop this problem urged me to write this article....
LIFE LESSONS
I have always had a hard time saying no. Maybe this is the same for you. This problem is more common than we can imagine. So, why do we hesitate when we refuse something? Maybe because we feel bad declining requests or hurting someone’s feelings. This problem affects many people around the world, and saying no can have very bad impacts. Hence, my urge to stop this problem urged me to write this article.
As an extension of our culture, we have been trained to accept that we should try to be as accepting and positive as possible. This is the central idea of many literature bodies; books, poems and articles. It is said that one should be as affirmative as possible, in order to gain and open up more opportunities. The idea of always saying yes is intended for opportunities. Unfortunately, too many people do not know their goals and objectives in life; they do not have the ability to determine what an opportunity is compared to something that is just a waste of time and a distraction. As a result, they end up filling their schedules with things that don’t really matter and experience less time for the things they really love and enjoy - the opportunities in life.
Being welcoming is tough. Saying yes to everything and everyone, doing your fellow student’s graphs, making ginger-tea for your colleague who has got a headache, going out with your friends because they want you to even when you yourself don’t feel like going out at that moment, letting people invade your me-time, etc. are all signs that you never reject anything. If you never decline any request or demand, people will start taking advantage of you. Your fellow student will keep asking you to do her graphs, watching you making your colleague ginger tea will urge the other colleagues to ask you to make them ginger tea when they are ill, too. Your friends will keep nagging you to go to a party, and your privacy and me-time will keep on being annexed. The thing is, we need to reject something. Otherwise, we stand for nothing. We are defined by what we choose to accept and reject. If we never reject anything, fearing that we might be rejected too, we are unvalued. Rejection is an important skill. One has the right to have a say in what happens in his/her life.
We are not expected to say no, but if it violates our peace, privacy and stresses our gray matter, we are allowed to do so. Saying no might seem impolite, but it is what it is. If one does not feel obliged to do a favour, it is perfectly fine not to do so. Because, if we agree to things half-heartedly, it can create stress. Knowing when to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ depicts the standards and clarity of a person. It shows that we know what to say and when to say it. Saying no is not something rude. It means that we indicate respect for ourselves and the other person. Just because you’re being honest does not mean that you do not want to do something for the other person. It just means we do not want to stretch our bodies and over-commit ourselves. All we must learn is to say ‘no’ politely.
