Never Set Boundaries? The Amazing Freedom of Saying No

How Saying No Can Improve Your Life, Increase Self-Respect, and Simplify Your Choices

Studies on assertiveness and effective communication have found that approximately 50% of people struggle with setting boundaries and saying no to requests.

I often say YES too often.

It’s like when you have a beautiful lawn in front of your house, and your neighbors have gotten used to walking over it to shorten their path to their yard. It bothers you, but you say nothing because you want to be a good neighbor. After all, you’ve learned not to argue.

In reality, you haven’t developed the mechanism to enforce boundaries.

THE DAY YOU SAY NO

Over time, your front lawn starts to deteriorate. Moreover, your neighbors continue to shorten their path closer and closer to your house, until they’re walking right under your kitchen window.

Then, one day, you can’t take it anymore, and you start yelling at the inconsiderate neighbors, who should have known it’s not normal to walk under your window.

They stop and look at you like you’re crazy. The actions of your neighbors who’ve destroyed your lawn are indeed outrageous, but you’ve…