The power of No.

We’ve all heard about the power of saying yes. The power of optimism and positivity. Lately, though, I’ve been thinking about the power of the word no. It seems to me that people have a really hard time saying no. Perhaps they think feelings will get hurt. Perhaps they don’t know what they truly want in life and making a definitive decision is just too daunting. Perhaps they think that by staying silent, the question will just disappear.

Why is it so hard to say no?

I think no is more powerful than yes. No requires a firm commitment. No requires closing a door. But guess what? No also brings closure. By saying no you give yourself (and others) the ability to move on. By saying no you are actually giving yourself the ability to explore other opportunities, better opportunities, that lie just beyond that door riddled with self-doubt. By saying no you are choosing to take yourself out of limbo and into certainty.

And guess what else? No doesn’t have to be forever. No doesn’t have to be permanent. A few months or even years from now that no may turn into a yes, when the conditions are right. But, until those conditions are all perfectly lined up, do me a favor, just say no and let us move on.