How Saying NO Can Make Room for YES

Fit is Freedom with Kelly Howard

In this quick but episode, we dive into a critical topic: the art of saying no in order to prioritize what truly matters. As we enter the busy holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in saying yes to everything, but that often comes at the expense of our own well-being. Kelly explores why we struggle to say no, shares actionable strategies to set boundaries, and explains how saying yes to ourselves creates a ripple effect of positivity.

Key Takeawys

• 1. Why We Struggle to Say No
• - Being kindhearted and wanting to help others often leads us to overcommit.
  - Saying yes to others can mean saying no to our priorities like health, family, and personal time.
• 2. The Tipping Point
• - Overcommitting can cause the things that matter most to slip away.
  - Recognizing this tipping point is crucial for maintaining balance.
• 3. No is Not a Complete Sentence
• - Saying no doesn’t mean shutting doors—it’s about aligning with personal goals and values.
  - Communicating boundaries with confidence allows us to own our priorities without guilt.
• 4. A Real-Life Example
• - A client caring for her mother found a way to maintain her routine by hiring help, allowing her to say yes to herself while still supporting her family.
• 5. The Ripple Effect
• - Saying yes to self-care leads to improved well-being, more passion, and greater joy.
  - This positivity naturally impacts those around us, fostering happiness and fulfillment.
• 6. Preemptive Planning
• - Plan ahead to identify upcoming commitments you want to say no to.
  - Use journaling to explore what you can say no to in order to make room for what truly lights you up.
• 7. Final Thought
• - Every time you say no to something that doesn’t align with your goals, you’re saying yes to something that does.