The Power of "No"

Ever felt overwhelmed by your To Do List?  Then a friend texts you asking for a favor and you wonder where you will find the time to help them out.  One of the things I have always struggled with is knowing when to say no.  Sometimes there can be a thin line between helping someone out and inconveniencing your Self. 

A few years ago, I was watching the Oprah Winfrey Show and heard something that struck a chord in me. Oprah's guest was talking about the power of no. She went on to say that we should view our To Do List in terms of commitments. If something comes up that we know we do not have the time or energy for, we can always say I'm already committed. That can mean I'm already committed to my work, I'm already committed to my family, or I'm already committed to my Self. You may have noticed on previous blog posts that I separate my from Self and capitalize Self. In doing so I am referring to the spiritual person that resides in each of us. 

Making time for our Selves is just as important as making time for others. It's wonderful to be altruistic and share our time with others, but at some point we all need time for our Selves. Solitude is just as important as having a sense of community. Whether we make time to meditate, exercise, or read a book spending time alone is often needed in order to drown out all of the noise around us and return to center. 

If you need some suggestions on  how to decide whether to say yes or no, this article is a great reference:

Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes