Saying No
I've been ill this past week, which has given me plenty of opportunity to lie down and stare at the ceiling. My prime time for overthinking.
I find it hard to rest and it got me thinking about how often I over-do it. I have a hard time saying no and measuring my capacity until I'm already running on empty.
Lying there this week, I kept coming back to the reason why "no" is so difficult for me. I think it all comes down to people pleasing and the fear of letting people down.
But the reality is I don't want people to like me because I say yes. I want them to like me because of who I actually am. And if that's not enough then honestly, I'm getting more comfortable with that.
Recently I shared a quote on boundaries. I know the theory, and yet I struggle hugely with them in practice. How do I push back? How do I say no if I don't have a good enough reason?
You don't need a reason to say no. The reason is that you don't want to, or you're tired, or you're ill. All perfectly valid. Wanting to protect your own energy is more than enough of a reason to push back.
Being ill this week was a reminder of that. The body has its own way of enforcing boundaries when you struggle to. It's a reminder to slow down before you have no choice but to.