Learn To Say No

The line for this week is:

"Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph."

I feel like a lot of times in our culture or society today that we say "Yes" without really thinking about it.


We say "Yes" to things we don't want to do because we feel it's our duty to do it, or we feel responsible in some way so we just go ahead and do it.

How many times have you said yes to something but in the back of your mind or in your heart you really didn't want to do it?

How did that make you feel?

Did that make you feel excited and looking forward to doing that thing?

Or did it make the wait and the effort to do that thing so much misery that you would have rather slammed your hand in a car door then done what you had said you would do?

Or better yet especially in our society today how many times have you said yes to something and then at the last minute came up with and excuse as to why you can't do it or you just don't even show up at all?

But is this really the right answer?

No, I don't think it is.

This reminds me of a book I read a long time ago written by Derek Sivers the name of the book is "Anything You Want".

In his book he had one quote in particular that stuck with me all this time.

"If it's not a Hell Yes!! then it's a no."

Pretty simple and basic don't you think?

But boy is that quote and mindset powerful.

Think about that quote one more time...

"If it's not a Hell Yes!! then it's a no."

So what does that mean...

I'm sure each person who reads that quote could have a different meaning but to me, it means this.

If I'm presented with an option to do A or B and I think to myself "Hell Yes" I want to do A then I do A.

But if I'm presented with an option to do A or B and I'm not like "Hell Yes" I want to do one or the other... I then say no to both of them.

Life is really too short people to go around doing things that you really deep down don't want to do.

Now yes, I know there are some people sitting back reading this right now thinking to themselves well I'm an adult, or I have a spouse, or I have a family or whatever other things you're thinking to yourself right now.

I understand that and I understand that sometimes in life there are just things we have to do even if we don't want too.

The point I'm trying to make here is that I'm pretty sure if you stop and look at the choices you have to make each day one of two things is going to happen.

• You have made some life choices prior to this and now you don't have an option but to do X now. But once X has been completed then you have a new option to make a new choice.
• You have an option, and this is where you can apply this quote.

Also, I think I would be remiss my friends if I didn't remind you of the value of "Your Word".

What is "your word"?

It's when you tell someone you're going to do something you do it. Plain and simple you follow through and you do it.

What is "your word" worth to you?

If you say "Yes" to something then you better follow through and do it.  You've given someone your word and your word should mean something to you.

If you say "No" to something then you'd better follow-through just the same or else people will also know that you don't value your word or your time.

Your "Word" should be your bond.

So if you say "Hell Yes!!" to an option then grab it with both hands and move forward.

If you say "No" to an option then, don't touch it and just walk away from it.

Does that make sense to you?

At the end of the day, it comes down to this...

• Saying "Hell Yes" or "No" to an option that has been presented to you.
• Then keeping "your word" once you make a decision.

It's really that simple my friends.

I hope this helps you a little bit and I hope it helps you to have a better idea of when to say "No" and "Yes" to the many different options you'll be presented within life.

Let me know below if this has helped you.