No: The Most Powerful Word for Success, Happiness and More!

We've been taught that it's good to say "Yes", to juggle a million things, to do and achieve as much as we can in as short a time-frame as possible! And as a result, stress and overwhelm are endemic in modern culture.

But the difference between people who succeed and those who don't (and between people who enjoy life, and people who feel stressed and overwhelmed) is not people who say "Yes", but those who are willing to say "No"!

"No" is the most powerful word in the dictionary

What's interesting is that when you were small, you felt quite at home saying "No". In fact when you first learned to say "No" you probably loved it! It's that moment in our young lives when we suddenly realise we don't have to do what we're told—and boy does it feel good!

But it's inconvenient for adults when children say, "No"—and sometimes even dangerous. So as a child, you were overridden—and sometimes shamed into considering other people's needs and feelings.

You were taught that saying "No" is bad and selfish. So it's no wonder your "No" lost its potency.

You learned to do what you were told in order to feel safe, accepted and cared for—and to avoid feeling shame and guilt

But now you are the adult and you have a choice.

You can say "Yes", but crucially, you also get to say, "No".

The Dangers of Yes

Whatever career or subject we're interested in, whatever activity we want to do, wherever we want to travel, it's all available to us like never before in history. Literally anything is possible. But we are overloaded!

• Technology allows us to be in contact with everyone at all times—phone, email, video, social media, messaging.
• We make a huge number of daily choices too—what to eat, what to wear, how to get somewhere, how long we work for.
• There are things other people expect us to do, things we need to do and things we want to do.

Is it any wonder that we're in a state of overwhelm? We have a super-abundance of choices, communication and tasks and it's stressing us out!

Consider that by saying "Yes" to one thing, you're automatically saying "No" to something else...

For example, by saying "Yes" to long working hours you're saying "No" to family or self-time. And by saying "Yes" to going out every night this week, you're saying "No" to being rested and at your best during the day.

And this leads to a powerful set of questions we can ask our clients. Try asking:

• By saying "Yes" to (client issue or goal), what are you saying "No" to?
• By saying "No" to (client issue or goal), what are you saying "Yes" to?

We Need to Get Clear on What Really Matters

One of the most powerful things we can do is relearn how to say "No"—both to ourselves and others.

Because in this busy, modern world there will always be more to do than time available.

And what you say "No" to, frees you up to say "Yes" to something else. And this is where coaching really comes into its own.

Just a few of the areas where coaching helps people include:

• Connecting clients with the vision they have for their life—and establishing goals
• Deciding what really matters to them—their values
• Trusting their intuition
• Noticing and paying attention to their feelings and needs—self-care!
• Taking a more balanced approach to their lives—work and life, family and self

And all of these are helpful in learning and understanding when we need to say "No". But the reverse is also true, that saying "No" helps us achieve the life we want, have more balance, and gives us precious feedback as we learn to trust our intuition, connect with our values and take better care of ourselves.

Do You Know What to Say "No" To?

Saying "No" is about clarifying—a key coaching skill. And learning what to say "No" to is critical to both our clients' and our own success.

When we're clear on our vision and goals, our values (what we consider deeply important), when we trust our intuition and acknowledge our feelings and needs, then we know what we need to say "No" to.

Until then, we tend to say "Yes" without really understanding the cost of that "Yes", and end up stressed and overwhelmed.

So help your clients figure out what really matters!

And then ask questions that help them make choices that align with who they are and what they want from life.

Because when we only say "Yes" to things that enrich and enliven our lives, and learn to say "No" to things that drain us or move us away from our goals, we are happier, calmer, more focused—and more successful!

There are only two words that will always lead you to success. Those words are yes and no. Undoubtedly, you've mastered saying yes. So start practicing saying no. Your goals depend on it! Jack Canfield