How to say no (without feeling guilty or selfish)

So I... did it. And I felt like the most selfish girl in the world. I said "no" to helping a friend instantly (and without justification). I've always tried to prioritize myself and so this was an experiment of sorts. And I thought that I would share how you can say "no" (without feeling stupid or selfish!)<br><br>**Why we struggle**<br><br>A lot of us struggle with saying “no.” We’re afraid it will damage our relationships, that we’ll come off as self-centered, or that we owe people. But, the truth is, we can’t please everyone. We can’t make everyone happy. And we can’t say “yes” to every opportunity without sacrificing our own happiness and well-being.<br><br>Learning to say “no” is crucial in setting boundaries and making time for what really matters to us. Here are some tips on how to say no graciously:<br><br>**When To Say No**<br><br>Before we dive into the tips, let’s talk about when to say “no.”<br><br>**No to obligations**: Don’t take on obligations that don’t serve you or align with your goals.<br><br>**No to commitments**: Be cautious with long-term commitments and make sure they are aligned with your priorities.<br><br>**No to favors**: Don’t do favors that you don’t want to do. Doing something for someone that you don’t want to do can create resentment and negativity.<br><br>**No to debt**: Don’t go into debt for something that isn’t essential or aligned with your long-term goals.<br><br>**No to purchases**: Be mindful of impulse purchases and make sure they align with your financial goals.<br><br>**No to relationships**: Establish boundaries in relationships and say “no” to people who drain your energy or don’t support your well-being.<br><br>**No to emotions**: Don’t let emotions drive your decisions. Take time to think before making a decision.<br><br>I have instantly wanted to say yes to every one of these but I am saying no. It's scary. But I've realized that the biggest fear is not saying no but asking ourselves the very important question: "what do I want?" What are you gonna say no to?<br><br>**TL;DR:** We all struggle with saying no. Don’t let people control your choices. Instead of automatically saying yes, take time to think. Ask yourself these questions. And when you’re ready, say no. And say it without apology. Without justification. Without explanation. Because you only live once. And you must live intentionally.