The Power of Saying No | Tony Robbins

Many people are afraid to say no. Why? There could be many reasons why you’re uncomfortable turning others down, but it mostly stems back to our need to make the people around us feel happy and cared for.

It can be challenging to say no, because you feel like you’re directly insulting or hurting the people around you. The thing is, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You have the right to say no in any situation, be it the reply to a request from a coworker, family member or romantic partner.

At the end of the day, you’re the one who gets to decide how to spend your time, and that’s where the power of saying no comes into play. Think about what your life would be like if you said yes to everything asked of you, no matter how big or small. You’d never have a moment to yourself! Not only would you not be able to pursue your own interests and goals, but you’d end up doing a bunch of tasks that not only could be done by someone else, but are most likely unnecessary altogether.

It might take time to warm up to the idea of regularly saying no. When someone asks you for something, give yourself a moment to think. Don’t respond immediately. Let them know you’ll get back to them. If you do decide to say no, and “no” feels too harsh, try an alternative: “I choose not to,” “Not at this time” and “That will not work for me.”. And remember, it is your right to decide how you spend your time.

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Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. For more than 37 years, millions of people have enjoyed the warmth, humor and dynamic presentation of Mr. Robbins' corporate and personal development events. As the nation's #1 life and business strategist, he¹s called upon to consult and coach some of the world¹s finest athletes, entertainers, Fortune 500 CEOs, and even presidents of nations.