Saying No

Saying no can be one of the hardest things to do.

No to an exciting project. No to a volunteer opportunity in the community or church. No to the extra helping at dinner. No to bad habits we’ve carried with us all our lives.

There’s power in saying no. When we have the courage to do it, we stop stretching ourselves too thin. We make more time for our families. We become healthier by defeating the temptation to eat the extra cookie. We break bad habits that have held us prisoner all our lives.

These small wins add up over time and give us the courage to say no when we should more often.

It’s okay to say no. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It says you’re strong and willing to sacrifice for the important stuff.

It takes guts to say no.

For me, the rest of 2017 is going to be a year of saying no. No extra projects. No outside distractions and commitments to burn me out and take me away from the family. No to using food to deal with stress. No to procrastinating. No wasting time on things that don’t matter.

But I also plan to make it a year of yes. Yes to spending time with the family. Yes to being more focused and in the moment. Yes to being mindful of those around me. Yes to making my health a priority.

It takes effort to say no. But in the end, the good gained far outweighs the bad we turn our backs on.