The Art and Grace of Saying NO

I had the pleasure of giving a talk last week to a group of women at a Women's Empowerment Summit in New York. Here are some excerpts:

  

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What is does it really mean to say “no”?

It’s about setting clear boundaries. Boundaries are fundamental for keeping us safe and supporting our well-being. We learn as we are growing up and teach our children - stranger danger, what is inappropriate behavior by adults and other children, to stay away from other children who are not good playmates. We hope that we (and our children) learn how to keep ourselves safe and well.

Two year olds learn to say “no!”. If there is something they don’t like, they scream NO, and it helps them to feel powerful and able to set limits. It is the natural foundation for establishing independence and autonomy. Saying “no” establishes boundaries and gives us power.

So why, as adults, are we afraid to say "no"? Why do we think we don’t deserve to protect ourselves? Or like we have to take on everything that is asked of us? Because whether it is biological or socialized (or perhaps a mix of both), women in particular are more likely than men to be “people pleasers”, and we do not want to disappoint. Saying no feels too much like giving up someone’s approval - we don’t want to lose the client, feel rejected, or be disliked. However, not saying “no” once may feel like a small thing. But over time, not saying “no” becomes a habit, which is a major problem.

When we say yes when we really ought to say no, we allow our boundaries to be invaded, making the other person more important than ourselves. It also diminishes the value of the things we truly WANT to say yes to. To truly give generously, one must have good boundaries.

When setting boundaries:

Be clear about your limits – allow no one to make demands on you, only requests;

Discomfort is a signal of an attempt to invade your boundaries. You know it even if they don’t. Do not say yes under these conditions. Say no and mean it;

Exercise your freedom of choice – if you take on another’s troubles, you probably aren’t free to make choices in any part of your life.

When you do not have tight boundaries, you risk compassion fatigue and burnout.

Compassion fatigue and burnout can occur when we engage in emotionally challenging work, but do not sufficiently protect our own boundaries or replenish our energy at the rate that we expend it. Some experts suggest that people who are attracted to caregiving work are already compassion fatigued.

Accepting the presence of compassion fatigue in your life only serves to validate the fact that you are a deeply caring individual - that’s the good news. However, somewhere along your healing path, the truth will present itself: you don't have to make a choice. It is possible to practice healthy, ongoing self-care while successfully caring for others.

How to Say NO

Be willing to have the courageous conversation if needed to reinforce your boundaries. We have to TEACH others how we want to be treated.

Here is my cheat sheet with some examples of how to say no gracefully:

“I wish I could, but it’s just not possible right now. Thank you for thinking of me.”

“I hate saying no to you, but I really must this time.”

If you don’t have time now but might want to say yes some other time:

“I’d love to help you with this, but I just don’t have the time. Please let me know next time this comes up, and maybe our schedules will be a better match then.”

Or:

“I would like to help, but I’m already over committed. How else might I support you?”

Where do you need to say no right now?

Refrain from explaining yourself. You are entitled to say no without having to justify it.

If there is something you’re willing to do, say yes, but choose wisely.

What are you are willing to do and can do gracefully, WITHOUT RESENTMENT?

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"'No' is a complete sentence." ~Oprah Winfrey

Halona Patrick Shaw, LCSW, JD
Board Certified Life Coach
Eyes Turned Skyward, Inc.
halona@eyesturnedskywardcoaching.com
ph/text (917) 846-7784

Resolution Relapse

Did you make any resolutions for 2016? If so, are you still on track?

Studies show that nearly 66% of those who actually make New Year’s resolutions abandon their goals by February 1st. In fact, more than 40% give up well before the first month is over. That means that by now, at least 40% of us who made resolutions have strayed away from our goals we set for ourselves just a few weeks ago.

Chances are, you are suffering a Resolution Relapse. So what do you do if you stray from your track?

GET BACK ON AGAIN.

There’s nothing magical about January 1. Yes, it seems like a reasonable day to start something new.

BUT SO IS TODAY.

One of the best ways to get on track and to stay on track is to find someone who can partner with you for accountability. There is substantial research on how having someone else to hold us accountable increases substantially our chances of achieving the goals that we set for ourselves.

Having an accountability partner can be useful both for professional and personal goal-setting. Just as having a workout partner makes it more likely that you will keep your appointments at the gym, so too will sharing with a partner your plans, on anything from launching a new business, to how you will focus to achieve more balance in your life, make it more likely that you will stick to your plan.

 Here are some of the qualities you should consider when choosing an accountability partner:

-Choose someone whose opinion matters to you

-You may not want to choose a friend. You want someone who can be objective and honest (though compassionate, of course), who will not worry about hurting your feelings

-choose someone with whom you can have regular, scheduled check-ins; these are essential for accountability

-Be clear on what you need, and be honest with your accountability partner – your partner is of no use to you if are not clear in your expectations

Always, have fun - if it is something that you truly desire, it should not be a painful experience.

And lastly, visualize what it will feel to achieve your goal. Imagine yourself, one year from today.

What does your life look like?

How much closer are you to your goal?

Have you achieved it?

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"Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan." ~Tom Landry

 

Halona Patrick Shaw, LCSW, JD
Board Certified Life Coach
Eyes Turned Skyward, Inc.
halona@eyesturnedskywardcoaching.com
ph/text (917) 846-7784

A Gift to You - Happy New Year from Eyes Turned Skyward

This has been a powerful experience in the past, so I have made it an annual tradition. It is my gift to you (but really, from you to you) - an incredibly effective tool to bring intention into your life. Set aside a few uninterrupted moments of quiet and reflection to complete this exercise.

Step One:

Reflecting on 2015, consider the following areas of your life: personal life/spiritual development; romance/intimacy; wellness/self-care; finances; career/business; physical environment; social life/fun;

list your wins, successes and breakthroughs;

list your "losses", disappointments and breakdowns. Now - set these aside. They are part of your past.


Step Two:
Choose 5 lessons you have learned this year that you would like to take with you into 2016. When you decide which lessons to include, remember that these are lessons that you will use consciously in the New Year.


Step Three:
Now imagine that it is December of 2016. Make a list of your wins, successes and breakthroughs. Be specific, and write them as though they have already happened. Make the list as long as you like.


Which wins, successes or breakthrough resonate for you?


Which ones create good anticipation? Excitement?


Which ones SURPRISE YOU?

 

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“The priceless lesson in the New Year is that endings birth beginnings and beginnings birth endings. And in this elegantly choreographed dance of life, neither ever find an end in the other.”  ~Craig D. Lounsbrough

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Halona Patrick Shaw, LCSW, JD
Board Certified Life Coach
Eyes Turned Skyward, Inc.
halona@eyesturnedskywardcoaching.com
ph/text (917) 846-7784