Are You A Nice Girl…Or A Pushover?

2. Say No Sometimes

Saying “no” to our family and friends may seem selfish to a person who considers herself to be kind or helpful. But if you find that always saying “yes” comes at a personal expense to the extent that you feel drained or resentful, then it’s time to start putting yourself first. You can’t please everyone ALL of the time, and saying “no” every once in a while doesn’t mean that you’re being rude, disagreeable or that you’re an evil witch.

A lot of times, the conflict that we’re anticipating when we say “no” is all in our heads. It’s more about how you say “no” that affects how people will react, not that you turned them down. You can be nice and reject someone at the same time. Simply say that while you’d love to help, you have prior commitments, or that you simply can’t do it at this time. You have needs just like everyone else, and saying no isn’t about rejecting someone else’s needs, but respecting your own.