Admittedly, saying no is not easy if a lifetime of ambivalent yes-saying has preceded it. You may find that you are suddenly less popular with certain people (especially those who are afraid to think for themselves). Keep in mind that the practice of saying no does not imply being nasty, cold, or arrogant toward others. No is just no. It can still be said in a way that respects the other.

To practice saying no, you may want to start with matters of small consequence and work up to the bigger ones. Here are a variety of approaches:

• Practice on yourself. Stand in front of a mirror and practice saying no in a variety of ways. Experiment with different phrases that feel natural to you: “No thank you, but thanks for asking.” “Doing that would require more [time, work, money] than I’m willing to spend right now.” “I've decided to cut back on my outside commitments in order to put more time into my [home life, school work, relationship with my spouse].”
• Write out, in simple sentences, the clear no message that you may be afraid to deliver. Use this script when you need to call someone to say no or practice it before meeting someone in person. For example: “I know that you need help on this project, and it was great to work on it with you last year, but I have other priorities at this time that require my attention, so I will be unable to assist you. Good luck in getting the volunteers you need, and please call me again for next year.” Avoid apologizing. Practice your script until it sounds natural to you. The more often you speak in ways that are genuinely congruent with your own thoughts and feelings, the easier it will become.
• Examine the ways in which you currently spend your time and energy, including your diet and exercise programs. Determine which activities no longer support your wellbeing. Make a list of No Mores and post it where you will see it often. Check off one or two items you could most easily drop, and plan to get at them right away. Think back to the last time you wanted to say No but didn’t. Recall, with as much detail as you can, your feelings about that situation. Forgive yourself for your lack of honesty, if that was the case. Decide whether you want to, if you can, remedy that situation by saying No now. In any case, reaffirm your intention to say No—as appropriate—in the future.
• Reflect on the following integrity statements. Such statements form the context for saying Yes and saying No in a way that honors yourself and others. Which of these statements are appealing to you? Which would you like to commit to? Which would you like to discuss with others? Write in your journal about the implications of each statement.
• I am willing to be more responsible for my own life in thought, speech, and action.
• I want to support others—in a manner that is kind, generous, and compassionate—in being more responsible for themselves.
• I wish to value interdependence in my life (we’re all here together, humans and other creatures) and to live in harmony with that realization.
• I wish to honestly acknowledge both mistakes and successes, in myself and others, without judgment or over-indulgence.
• I am willing to honor and respect my whole being: my body, my mind, my emotions, and my spirit.
• I want to remain open to feedback and flexible in my dealings with the environment, with myself, and with others.
• I value my word as a sacred pledge, to myself and to others, and wish to be more trustworthy and dependable, in small matters as well as in large ones.
• I wish to honor my dreams, goals, and ideals and to work toward bringing them into reality. I wish to honor the dreams, goals, and ideals of others, and to assist them (as appropriate) in bringing these into reality.
• I wish to ask for help and to allow people to help me as an expression of shared humanity, even if I’m feeling guilty, unworthy, or dependent.
• I wish to honor and trust my basic goodness.

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