Episode 57: Happy NO...vember

Act to Live

Summary:

On this episode of the Act To Live Podcast, Jaime starts about the episode by talking about a quote that she recently saw on Instagram. The quote, by Erica Layne, brings up the idea of saying ‘NO’ to things that drain your energy and ‘YES’ to things that fill you up. Scott and Jaime then discuss the concept of saying ‘NO’ - something that both of them struggle with at times. The duo then talks about some of the research that exists behind the difficulty and worry associated with saying ‘NO,’ as well as some of the benefits of learning to say ‘NO.’ Scott wraps up the episode by sharing some questions we can ask ourselves when we are stuck in those moments of indecision - somewhere between ‘YES’ and ‘NO.’

ACTion Event of the Week: When you find yourself struggling with whether to say ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ to something, try asking yourself some of the questions below.

• Will saying yes prevent me from focusing on something that’s more important?
• Does this potential project, opportunity, or activity align with my values, beliefs, and goals?
• What are my core values, beliefs, and current goals?
• Will saying yes make me even more tired or burnt out?
• Will saying yes be good for my mental health? Or will it worsen my symptoms?
• In the past, when have I said yes and then ended up regretting it?

Join us on the next episode of the Act To Live Podcast as we explore the concept of home.

References:

Guha, A. (2021). How (and why) to say no: Saying no is an essential psychological skill, and one that many struggle with. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prisons-and-pathos/202105/how-and-why-say-no

Tartakovsky, M. (2021). How and When to Say No. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/lib/learning-to-say-no