The Importance Of Saying "No"

**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase.

Pixabay / CC0 Licence

Refusing to partake in an activity, or declining an invitation to a social event, is - societally at least - viewed as rather… regressive. We live in a world where everyone is encouraged to do what they want, live life as they see fit, and find their path; but for some reason, these philosophies fly out of the window when someone refuses to do something that others think is a good idea.

As a result, most people reading this will have found themselves, at some point in the past, saying “yes” when they really want to say “no”. Perhaps you agreed to go out for the night when you really wanted to curl up in bed; found yourself on the back of a friend’s motorcycle when you’d initially refused out of fear of an accident; or just accepted a work project that you didn’t have time for - whatever the scenario, you agreed somewhat against your will, for fear of the repercussions of saying “no”.

Building your confidence

The ability to refuse to do something you don’t want to do is strongly related to confidence. If your self-confidence is low, you’re all the more likely to find yourself persuaded by the force of someone else’s will - you’re likely to agree that, okay, you’re comfortable with riding a motorcycle, and fine, you might as well take on that extra work project, because your diminished self-confidence convinces you that your gut instinct is one to be overruled.

As a result, working on building your confidence is the first step to finding the ability to say “no”. There are a variety of different ways to build your confidence, ranging from daily affirmations to visiting a therapist, so it’s worth exploring your options in this regard. In addition, you may find it helpful to read through https://www.bustle.com/9-ways-to-stop-second-guessing-yourself-trust-your-own-decisions in order to bolster your ability to trust your decision-making, so you can feel more confident that your instinctive “no” reaction is actually the correct one.

Finding the confidence to say “no” in the moment

Working on your self-confidence is an important step, but learning to say “no” in the moment is inherently challenging. Someone is making an offer that you want to refuse; go for a motorcycle ride, spend a night out on the town - whatever it is, they want you to say yes. This means you will inevitably experience a greater sense of pressure, even if the person making the offer doesn’t intend you to feel that way at all.

So, how can you address this? The best way is usually to use facts; simply explain why you are saying no. If you’re scared of riding a motorcycle as you fear you’ll inevitably need assistance from Salinastriallaw.com/san-antonio/motorcycle-accident-attorney/, then say so; if you have to be up early the next morning, explain this; if you’re concerned another work project will impact your stress levels, then quickly explain this concern. By relying on factual, reasoned arguments, the person making the offer should understand your point of view and back down. If they don’t, then stand by those facts; they’re valid, and if someone takes issue with them, that reflects on them, not you.

In conclusion

By improving your self-confidence and using factual, reasonable justifications when refusing, you should feel all the more empowered to resist activities you’d rather not be involved in.

5 Activities That Encourage A Calm Mind

**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase.

https://unsplash.com/photos/s9CC2SKySJM

In this day and age, it’s natural for you to feel overwhelmed. Very much so. And when this is the case, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re able to can manage yourself well. Because if you’re disorganized in life, and you’re not all that intentional, chaos can occur. Our minds are strange places. Naturally, they’re programmed to cause problems. They worry, they fear, they’re negative. And they’re exhausting too! So, you have to go the extra mile to keep your mind calm. To quieten your thoughts and to promote peace and positivity.

In a busy world, that’s tough. So it’s always good to know ways to deal with anxiety and stress. But when you’re dealing with both, it’s the hardest thing to do. To help you, let’s consider five activities that can encourage a calm mind.

Writing

To start with, there’s writing. You don’t have to want to pen the great American novel or even have anything to say to write. You could just start by journaling and emptying your thoughts onto a page. Or you could make up stories - anything. The process of writing is like therapy. It’s calming and allows you to escape your mind for a while.

https://unsplash.com/photos/lRKM2STBj14

Running

Exercise is so good for us. And not just for your body - mainly for your mind. Running, in particular, is one of the forms of exercise that gives you immense mental clarity. If you find that your thoughts consume you and you cannot escape them, hit the road. Just start running. It weirdly clears your mind and allows you to focus. It’s a great way to force yourself to breathe and to be present, whether you’re listening to music while you’re doing it or not.

Meditation

And then, of course, there’s always meditation to think about here too. Meditation is one of those things that you can easily think is hard work or not for you, but most of the time you may not even know what it involves. The idea is that you’re calming the mind. And anyone can do that. So much so, that there are different meditation apps that you can try to see what works for you. By making your mind still and controlling your thoughts, you’ll always be able to encourage a calmer mind.

https://unsplash.com/photos/-kl_XvEOqMU

Reading

Next up, there’s reading too. Because it’s escapism. Whether you’re an avid reader or not, there’s always going to be a kind of book for you. And it allows you to take your mind off of whatever it’s thinking about and diving into a new world that allows you to feel calm.

Drawing

And finally, there’s also drawing too. You may not realize it, but drawing is a great stress reliever. Even if you don’t think you’re all that creative. Or you don’t you think can draw, it’s pretty calming. Here, you could even look to get one of the adult coloring books. Because spending your time coloring things in is just as therapeutic as drawing something from scratch.

How to Become More Organized With a Bullet Journal

**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase.

How to Become More Organized With a Bullet Journal

You already know that a bullet journal can help you make lists for the future, build your business, manage your finances, and relieve your stress. But perhaps one of the greatest benefits to this type of journal is that it can help organize your entire life.

Create a Bucket List With Your Bullet Journal

**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase.

One of the excellent things you can do with a bullet journal is create a bucket list. This isn’t just a simple list of the short-term and long-term goals you want to achieve, but really includes things you would like to accomplish in your lifetime. Don’t be afraid to include things that might seem almost impossible, but still within our reach at some point. It gives you something amazing to strive for.

Leading By Example: Overcoming Devastating Events As A Parent

**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase.

Picture by Josh Willink

If you want your children to be well-rounded individuals, confident, good-natured, generous, and kind, it takes hard work, dedication, and commitment.