It's ok to say no.
One of the biggest barriers for women who want to start their healing journey is all of the things they will have to say no to. Whether it is saying no to past behaviour patterns, family members, loved ones, work, or themselves, this is a tricky space to navigate. I wanted to draft this post to help you ladies with whatever you need this for.
It is hard to say no, I get it ladies. How many of you are saying yes to things that result in you putting your own health and wellness on the the back burner? This is your permission slip to say no to something today that does not serve you! Saying no does not have to be a negative process for you or the people on the receiving end. Here are my tips on how to say no with class, elegance, and kindness.
Less is more. We have a tendency to think we need to fully explain ourselves and make sure that people know the whole story so we don’t come off in an unfavourable way. In reality, you do not owe anyone an explanation. It is not your responsibility to bring anyone along for the ride on your journey. In fact, it is way more freeing if you don’t. It is your journey girl, you are all you need to feel fulfilled and find your higher self. So try to speak less when and where possible. Stop making endless excuses that ultimately drain your energy.
Focus on your self-improvement. Setting boundaries in life is a sign that you are developing a truer understanding of yourself. When you keep this as your focus, it will help you stay motivated to continue even when your old self is calling you back to old patterns. Moving away from your old behaviour patterns will attract new energy in your life. It will also help those already part of your life to relate to you in new ways that are ultimately more positive for you.
Sleep before you speak. If you need to communicate your choice to someone, doing so when your are full of unruly emotions is not the right time. Take pause and sleep on it. Shift your focus and release some of that intense energy (exercise is so great for this). Do this so you can show up in a calm and still manner. This will persevere your integrity and is respectful to those you are communicating with.
It is ok to be wrong, and it is ok to change your mind. It’s natural to vigorously defend our previous opinions or decisions to avoid being in the wrong, but when that stance is holding you back from growth and needed change, it’s not helpful. If you realize that there is something you are doing that no longer serves you, you are under no obligation to continue just because you always did. Additionally, you are under no obligation to continue if others enjoy or need that aspect of you. In such cases, you may have to communicate with someone that you were wrong, and that’s ok girl. This can be a freeing process, a process that can help show you how much you’ve grown. Also, don’t forget the principle of less is more here, you’ll be surprised how little you actually have to say, if you have to say anything at all.
Remain kind. Boundaries can feel harsh, especially when you have to set them with people in your life. Setting a boundary with someone does not mean you have to be cruel. Keeping kindness as your focus can be very helpful when deciding how to approach a difficult boundary setting situation with a person. Kindness does not mean that it won’t hurt. Difficult emotions are common in boundary setting. As a result, having a set of positive coping mechanisms to manage these emotions as they come is necessary. Some I suggest are deep breathing, mediation, positive forms of exercise, and any self-care that resonates with you.
Saying no and setting boundaries is a process of self-discovery. The more you do this, the more you tune into your true self and the easier it will be to make these decisions. Once you successfully do this the first time and experience how freeing it is, you will be able to stay committed to it and very likely continue to level up this commitment by setting more boundaries.
I hope you found this helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Also, if you are ready to start saying yes to yourself and start your journey towards healing your nutrition and eating issues, than send me an email and we can book a free discovery call to talk more about how my services and programs can help you. Remember, it’s possible to have the life you want, it sometimes starts with saying no, and then, saying yes.
Sincerely,
Your Mindful Dietitian