Part of being assertive is learning to say no when someone asks us to do something we
don't want to do. This can particularly hard for women who are caregivers and feel
responsible for making people happy. But you owe it to yourself to stand up for
yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. Don't let people take advantage of
you; take these three tips for being more assertive and saying no.
Make sure you actually want to say no, and don't waffle on your decision. If you need
time to think about someone's request before giving an answer, just tell him or her
you need to think about it and will get back to him or her. Give them a specific time
so they don't think this is a wishy washy way of saying no. When you decide to say
no, do so firmly.
When you give a no answer, be as brief as you can. It's fine to give a reason for
your decision, but don't go on and on about it. That just gives the other person more
fuel to argue against you. Say no, give the reason, and say no more.
If the person continues to argue with you when you've said no several times, you have
to really get assertive. You have some options at this point. Either remain silent,
change the topic, or end the conversation altogether. What you don't want to do is
get mad. Remain calm and firm on your decision and don't back down.
Use these tips to learn to become more
assertive through hypnosis!
