Photo courtesy of Jen Theodore

Do you feel immense pressure while pushing yourself to do what others want? Have you been prioritizing everyone else's needs rather than your own? Getting along with other people might give you a lot of friends to hang out with. It can help you avoid conflicts in your environment and live peacefully.

But what if you feel like it's too much for you to handle? Would it be okay to say no?

In this blog, we'll answer the questions for you and share how to speak with confidence and authority. So, read on!

5 Reasons Why It's Okay to Say No

Because of wanting to have a harmonious surroundings, some individuals tend to keep saying yes to avoid arguments. They agree on what other people demand, sometimes neglecting how they actually feel. However, life flows and keeps going whether you decide to say no or not. The whole decision is on you. But sometimes, people just forget that there's nothing wrong with saying no. You don't have to feel guilty about it. Here's why:

1. Your Own Feelings Matter

Your feelings matter. No matter how much you want to get along with others, you shouldn't take how you feel for granted. It might seem harmonious to avoid arguments. But if you keep saying yes to what you don't like, you won't find your inner peace. Your inner self will just be shattered into pieces, and you will not be able to find genuine happiness in life.

2. You Need to Take Care of Your Mental Health

The pressure from other people, as well as from pushing yourself to do something you don't like, is not good for your well-being. You will suffer the consequences of choosing to say yes. In addition to that, you will be required to manage responsibilities that aren't supposed to be yours. All these things will cause you too much stress that might break you down.

3. It's Not Required to Do What They Want

Saying yes to commitment, favors, and offers is not a requirement. There might be consequences to your decisions, but there's always another choice. So, if what can make other people happy will just make you burdened, you can refuse to do it. Learn to set healthy boundaries and only agree to things that you genuinely want.

4. You Have Your Own Priorities in Life

Of course, everyone has their obligations in life, including you. You have a lot of more important things to take care of rather than meddling with other people's businesses. So, prioritize your own needs, hobbies, job, and more. 

If you commit to doing their favor, you might end up sacrificing your happiness and failing to do what truly matters. Thus, choose to make the right choice rather than go with the flow and end up with the wrong one. Keep in mind that other people are not your responsibility; You have your own life to live.

5. Others Will Judge You Whether You Try to Please Them or Not

A people pleaser wants to impress others so they won't get any negative comments from them. They try to maintain a good reputation and smooth relationships. However, you can't really control what others will say about you. Some people will judge you whether or not you try to be nice. Therefore, there's no need to stress to impress others. Just express your true self while setting boundaries. If they can't accept you for that, maybe you are just in the wrong environment and surrounded by the wrong people.

How to Say No Confidently

Saying no can be extremely hard, especially to the people close to you or those to whom you feel like you owe a favor. But saying yes to what you don't want will only be a huge mistake. For this reason, you have to maintain balance kindness. It demonstrates respect for yourself and your happiness.

Just start by choosing to refuse. It will be difficult if you are not used to it. But after some time, you will also get the hang of it and easily say no with confidence and authority. Think about those that really matter in your life. Think about your priorities, including your mental health, inner peace, and your own obligations; These things are far more important than committing to responsibilities that are not yours.

Remember, you are your own biggest advocate, and no one else should speak for yourself but you. There is nothing wrong with saying the word "No." Choosing what's okay and not okay to you is no one else's choice but yours. Thus, don't ever let anybody take advantage of you and make you feel uncomfortable. It's better not to please them than to suffer. They will judge you anyway.