I usually have no problem saying no to people but sometimes, have the difficulty adhering to the mantra for saying no.

Mantras for Saying No

•       Be honest. When you made your final decision, being clear and concise will help you keep your resolve.
•       Start with the word no.
•       Saying no is not a yes!
•       Own it as your own. Accept that you have said it and be responsible for it.
•       Stop beating yourself up. Once you’ve said no, and owned it, things might not come your way; just learn from the lesson and don’t be hard on yourself.
•       Have faith and believe in your judgment and stand by it.
•       According to David Gill’s point: “The ability to say no shows that you do have sound judgment.”
•       You’ve made your decision. You know why and that’s what matters not anyone else.
•       “No is a complete sentence according to self-defense expert Chris Kent.”
•       Walk away from bad deals. Claim your right to be treated fairly.
•       Changing a say-no habit begins with awareness and you can better keep your resolve.
•       Keep your resolve because it works out to be better than if you’d said what someone else wanted you to say.
•       Say no in writing when you find that saying no in person is too difficult for you.
•       Believe in yourself. You have a right to say no.
•       Consider the consequences before you say no or yes, and be prepared for those or other consequences to occur. You can always ask for more information before making the final decision.
•       Practice with the Power of No Model, so that the categories of POWER questions race to mind when you need them: Purpose, Options and Resources, When, Emotional Ties, and Rights and Responsibilities.
•       Realize that when you model saying no in your life, others will follow too.
•       Think for yourself. Don’t go along with everyone else.
•       Know that your no is in your best interest. It helps you to protect yourself, your time, and your energy.
•       Consider whether your no is in someone else’s best interest. If so, you are providing someone else protection by saying no.
•       Saying no can show that you have respect for yourself and for someone else.
•       Saying no when you aren’t being treated fairly is a form of claiming your self-respect.
•       Saying no when you know that you won’t be able to follow through on the commitment is an ethical response.
•       Never underestimate the power of the word no.
•       Know what you want to have happen after you’ve said no.
•       Be clear about your responsibilities after you’ve said no. You don’t want to get caught in a no-win situation or in a blaming game.
•       Using the word no is not about power over someone else. No is about having control and power over your own decision making. Once you’ve made a decision, keep your resolve.
•       Saying no is not a rejection of another person. Focusing on issues will make it easier to keep your resolve.
•       Ask others for help. Find a skilled Master of No and ask for help when you feel that keeping your resolve may be difficult.
•       Say no out loud every time you need to.
•       Prevent letting your no become a yes by using the Power of No Model.
•       Ask yourself why saying no to children is necessary and yet why it is not okay to say no to adults.
•       Stop being a flakey. Be decisive, and mean what you say.
•       Stop saying no only after angry, burdened, or too tired. It’s a bad habit, needs to stop.
•       If an activity or request for help is not important or relevant, say no.
•       If the time frame of a request is unrealistic and is not negotiable, say no. Find the courage to say no and stick to it.Your no can give other the courage they need to say no as well.
•       Remember the power of the word NO!

Sourced Book: No!: How One Simple Word Can Transform Your Life

by Jana Kemp

Sourced Picture: Socyberty.com