SELF-CARE TIP: SAY NO MORE OFTEN

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How many times do you catch yourself saying yes to things you should’ve actually said no to? Or how often do you find you say ‘maybe’ when you know full well that maybe is a NO? There are many reasons as to why we find it hard to say no. Whatever that reason may be, we can circle it back to a failure in setting boundaries. Setting boundaries is one of the biggest acts of self-care, yet so many of us find it difficult to actually stick to these.

Setting boundaries with those you care about can be scary, and also super difficult! But let me tell you, it is so worth it in the end, because you essentially are showing the people in your life how you want to be treated. We are responsible for showing others what we will tolerate and what we won’t – without boundaries set in place, you’re allowing people to treat you how they want. It’s a funny concept as we were always told “treat others how you want to be treated.” In retrospect, doesn’t it make more sense to treat others how they want to be treated? We all are so different and we’ve all gone through a variety of events that shape us into the person we are today, so learning how another person truly works is the biggest form of love, in my opinion.

The inability to say no also stems from one of my most favorite of concepts, good ol’ EXPECTATIONS. If you didn’t catch the sarcasm there, let me clarify. Expectations are far from my favorite of anything. Expectations = disappointment, failure, sadness, etc…however, I do love to talk about throwing expectations away in order to move forward. So let’s talk about it. Do you ever notice what feelings come up when you are faced with expectations? Whether it’s from family, friends, your significant other, or just society in general. I can guarantee they are feelings in your gut that more often than not lead to you becoming anxious. If I’m wrong, then you’re a super hero, and please comment your secret below 🙂

Moral of the story here is this:

Value YOUR time, define YOUR priorities, ditch expectations and don’t apologize for setting boundaries. I’m all about putting you and your mental health first. If saying no is already a part of your self-care practice, I would love to hear your tips and tricks!

Happy Monday friends!