When is the last time you said “NO”?
Has it been a while? Can you even remember the last time?
Are you known as the Mikey of the group? If you grew up in the 80’s, you’ll remember Mikey from the Life cereal commercials – “Give it to Mikey, he’ll eat anything!” Do others know you as the person who will do anything asked of you? At work, you’re the one that gets the crappy projects that no one else wants. At home, you’re the one that will make the meals, run the errands, help the kids with the homework. At your kids’ school, you’re the parent that always gets asked to take on the bake sale for the P.T.A. With your family, you’re the one that everyone calls when there’s a fight between family members. With your friends, you’re the one that they always come to with their problems.
If you’re sitting there right now saying to yourself, “It’s like Coach Dawn knows me!!” I want you to know that you’re not alone!
Now that you’re back from checking all over the house, your computer and phone for hidden cameras and bugs that you’re now convinced I have scattered all over the place watching and listening in on you, I want you to think back to your most recent incidents from any of the scenarios from above. How much of your time was consumed with organizing last years P.T.A. events, or listening to your Aunt Hilda’s latest recap of the family gossip and telling you what you need to do to fix it? I’m going to assume it was a bit of time, right? Now take all these little incidents that occur each week and add it all up. Quite eye-opening, isn't it?! Just think of what you could be doing with all that time if you just said “NO!”
Remember that manicure you’ve been wanting but cannot find the time for?
How about that new book you’ve been dying to read?
Can’t seem to find the time to get in a workout or sit down to a nice healthy meal?
How much less stress would you have right now if you weren’t carrying the weight of the worlds worries on your shoulders?
By simply learning to use the word “NO”, you are now allowing yourself to focus on YOU and YOUR own wants and needs instead of always being on someone else’s agenda! Saying “NO” for the first time might be a little scary, you may feel like you’re being selfish, letting that person down, opening yourself up for judgement and so on. But guess what? Who cares! Do you think that person is taking your valuable time into consideration when they are coming to you for something? NOPE!
Today is the day that you take back your time. Today is the day that YOU DO FOR YOU!
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there and the only person you’ll ever be able to rely on is you, and it’s up to you to liberate that strong person that’s been buried under everyone else’s wants and needs.
Take back your time. Take back your life. LIVE FOR YOU!