The Struggle of Saying No

Who else struggles with saying no?

I know it sounds crazy, but I've noticed that whenever someone I hold in high esteem asks me to do something, it's almost impossible for me to refuse. Not because it's convenient, half the time, it's not. But I’ll go above and beyond to get it done.

At first, I thought it was cool, you know? How I could figure my way out and was always open to a learning experience. However, recently, I've been seeing how not so cool it is. And I'm pretty sure I can't be the only person experiencing this, hence this write-up.

As I told Lee (my best friend) about yet another unnecessary task I took on, she said something that stuck with me. She said, and I quote, "Sometimes, when you overwhelm yourself with too many tasks, you don't grow."

Too much of everything is bad—that's why it's best to avoid the extremes. Now, for those of us who struggle to say no, how do you manage?

Yes, we know that a jack of all trades, though master of none, is oftentimes better than a master of one. But still, the breakdown that comes from the inability to turn down some opportunities can be massive. And over time, it might not result in as much growth as it should.

So yes, I've been learning to say no. Learning to consider the upsides and downsides of everything I take on. And you should too.

Dearest reader, don’t forget that you're not superhuman, okay? If it’s beyond your power, don’t be like me and act tough—better to step back, do what you can, and stay safe.

@favvy_Okwans🖤.