Stop Giving Excuses — Saying No Is Enough
I’ve always been the person to have a hard time saying no to someone. Whether it’s an invite to a dinner or being asked to take on another task at work, I’ve always felt the need to say yes. The more I said yes, the harder it was to say no.
And whenever I didn’t want to do something, I gave endless excuses and apologies for why I couldn't. Why did I do this? It’s simple — I am a people-pleaser.
The main reason I have a hard time saying no is that I want others to like me, and I’m sure many of you have felt the same way at some point in time.
What Makes It Hard To Say No?
I find people have a hard time saying no because they don’t want to disappoint someone nor damage the relationship.
Here’s what my mom said to me the other day after she was invited to go on a boat ride:
“I can’t go to the lake because I want to be home when my husband gets home.”
She then goes on to explain why she could not go out on the lake: we would have to stop to refuel, it takes too long to dock the boat, then it would take 30 minutes to get home. What if there is traffic? What if he gets home early?
